WASHINGTON – The House Ethics Committee dismissed fines Thursday against two veteran lawmakers who'd been accused of evading weapons screening required before entering the House chamber.
No. 3 House Democratic leader James Clyburn of South Carolina and Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., had both faced $5,000 fines for separate incidents last month.
Clyburn “deliberately avoided being screened" before entering the House chamber, according to a Capitol Police memorandum released by the ethics panel.
A separate police report said Rogers had triggered a metal detector and entered the chamber anyway, saying he had to vote. Each lawmaker had filed a one-page letter disputing the accusations.