A GOP congressman tried to enter the Capitol on Thursday with a concealed firearm, HuffPost reports
- GOP Rep. Andy Harris tried to carry a concealed gun into the House on Thursday, HuffPost reported.
- Metal detectors in the Capitol went off when Harris walked through.
- Harris tried to have another representative hold his weapon, then had to leave and come back.
Republican Rep. Andy Harris tried to enter the House chambers with a gun on Thursday but was stopped by metal detectors put in place after the Capitol siege on January 6, HuffPost reported.
The outlet said it saw the metal detectors go off when Harris walked through, then an officer scanned Harris and found a firearm on his side that was concealed by his coat.
A Capitol official later confirmed to HuffPost that Harris had a gun on him.
Capitol Police did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Harris could not be reached for comment.
The HuffPost report said that Harris tried to get Rep. John Katko to hold his firearm but that Katko told Harris he didn't have a license and refused to hold the gun. Harris left and came back 10 minutes later, without setting off any alarms, and went in the House chamber.
Supporters of President Donald Trump breached the US Capitol on January 6, halting a joint session of Congress to confirm Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. The riot left five people dead.
After the riot, Congress implemented new safety measures, including installing metal detectors.
Several House Republicans initially scoffed at the measures, and a few refused to walk through the metal detectors.
Before the riot, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert got on the radar of the police in Washington, DC, after she released an ad saying she would "carry my firearm in DC and in Congress," Insider reported on January 4.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on January 13 that people who refused to comply with the new screening protocols would be fined $5,000 for the first offense and $10,000 for the second.