A group of Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), on Tuesday defied mask rules on the House floor, saying that the face coverings are “oppressive” and “nothing but a political tool.”
“Best $500 I ever spent,” said Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., after he exited the chamber, referring to the House floor mask mandate that penalizes violators $500 for a first offense and $2,500 if they violate the rules again.
It’s part of a resolution passed Jan. 12, 2021 that states that the sergeant-at-arms “is authorized and directed to impose a fine against a Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner for the failure to wear a mask in contravention of the Speaker’s announced policies of January 4, 2021.”
The resolution was embedded as an amendment to H.R. Res. 21, which called on then-Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove former President Donald Trump from office. The House approved that resolution 223–205, even though Pence told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) directly he wouldn’t invoke the amendment.
Reps. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-Iowa) defied the mask mandate Tuesday, as well as Reps. Thomas Massie (-Ky.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Bob Good (R-Va.), Mary Miller (R-Ill.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas).
“Masks are oppressive and nothing but a political tool. End the oppression!” Greene said on Twitter, positing a selfie of herself and three other mask-less lawmakers.
#FreeYourFace
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) May 18, 2021
Masks are oppressive and nothing but a political tool.
End the oppression! pic.twitter.com/EBvCtBpE6u
According to a Capitol official cited by the Hill, Mast, Van Duyne, and Miller-Meeks will be fined $500 after ignoring previous warnings about violating the chamber’s mask rules, while the rest will be issued a formal warning.
