House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has announced a “zero-tolerance policy” for disturbances during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US Capitol, warning lawmakers that they could be arrested for violating the order. In his letter to colleagues, Johnson stated that due to the high attention garnered by Netanyahu’s address, there will be an increased police presence around the Capitol complex and in the House Chamber. He emphasized that a zero-tolerance policy will be enforced for disturbances within the building.
Johnson advised lawmakers to inform their guests beforehand that any disruption of the proceedings of the House may result in prosecution. If any disturbance does occur, the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol police will remove the offending visitor(s) from the gallery and subject them to arrest. Members of the House of Representatives could also face penalties for breaking the lower chamber’s rules.
The House speaker previously vowed that arrests would be made should anyone in the chamber cause a disruption during Netanyahu’s speech. Capitol Police arrested about 200 anti-Israel protesters on Tuesday for demonstrating inside the Cannon House Office Building on the eve of Netanyahu’s speech, sparking further controversy surrounding the Israeli prime minister’s upcoming address to Congress.
The announcement comes as several Democratic lawmakers opposed to Israel’s war against Hamas have boycotted Netanyahu’s speech, including Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md. Despite the protests and condemnations, Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump later in the week.
