House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent a letter to House members warning there would be arrests if people disrupted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to lawmakers on Wednesday.
Johnson said in his lettershared on Tuesday that there will be additional security measures and the note served as a “friendly reminder of the House’s long-standing rules and decorum.”
“Due to the attention drawn by the Prime Minister’s speech, there will be an increased police presence around the Capitol complex and in the House Chamber,” Johnson wrote. “In the interests of everyone involved, we will enforce a zero-tolerance policy for disturbances in the building.”
The Capitol Police confirmed days ago that it would hire officers from outside agencies to help staff the high-security event.
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters occupying the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building were arrested on Tuesday. A coalition of advocacy groups, made up of tens of thousands of people, plans to march to the Capitol during Netanyahu’s speech.
Johnson asked members of Congress to “kindly inform your guests” that the disruptions are a violation of the rules and could subject “violators to legal action.”
“If any disturbance occurs, the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police will remove the offending visitor(s) from the gallery and subject them to arrest,” Johnson said.
Johnson also issued a blunt warning to members, pressing them to “model respect and proper decorum.”
Top Democrats in both chambers are frustrated by the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Netanyahu has vowed not to back down until Hamas is destroyed and the remaining hostages, expected to number more than 100, are returned.
His invitation to speak to a joint session of Congress, extended by Johnson and the bipartisan leaders of both chambers, prompted several Democratic lawmakers to say they would boycott the speech. Vice President Harris, who was included in the party’s nominating process after President Biden dropped out of the race, will skip the speech.
“It is our tradition to recognize each guest speaker’s right to freedom of expression, even if we disagree with his or her point of view,” Johnson wrote. “If any deputy creates a disturbance, the Sergeant at Arms will request that such action be immediately ceased and we trust that request will be honored.”
Johnson thanked members in advance for their attention and attendance at this “historic joint session,” which is scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT.
The Israeli prime minister will also meet separately with Biden and former President Trump, the Republican Party’s White House nominee, later this week.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
