Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) was filming a video with TikTok influencer Johnny Palmadessa when a Capitol Police officer tried to remove them from the U.S. Capitol rotunda.
The Capitol rotunda requires advanced approval from both the House and Senate Galleries to film interviews as well as a permit from the U.S. Capitol Police, the rules for the electronic media website say. The rules specifically outline that the media can't stake out there.
Dexter said those rules don't apply to members of Congress filming videos themselves.
"The Sergeant at Arms wanted me to explain the requirement of a continuing resolution to use the rotunda because it's on both sides of the Congress," the Capitol Police officer said.
"Yeah, I'm not keeping anyone else from using it, so..." Dexter said.
"That's not the point. It requires both the House and Senate's approval," the officer said.
"Not for a member of Congress. I can walk through any part of this and record a video," Dexter said.
House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland then approached Dexter about the matter in plain clothes.
"We can't do it in the rotunda only because we need a concurrent resolution in order to do this. We have to get the Senate to —" McFarland began.
"To record a video?" Dexter asked.
"In the rotunda. So if you're having a press conference—"
Dexter interrupted, "It's not a press conference, sir. Like, he's an influencer and we're just recording a video."
"Ok. You're not filming now are you?" asked McFarland.
"Yes I am," Palmadessa replied.
"So, is filming not allowed in the rotunda?" Dexter asked.
"Filming is allowed in the rotunda, but if you're having a press conference, of course," McFarland continued.
"But it's not," Dexter said.
"Is he asking questions to you?" McFarland asked.
"No, we're literally talking about the shutdown," Dexter said. She then walked viewers through what happened.
"It's quite literally suppressing and silencing your freedom of speech as a Congresswoman," Palmadessa said.
"Yeah, they said it's a bipartisan place. That we all have to be able to use it. I'm not impeding anyone else from using it," Dexter continued.
Palmadessa then pointed out that there weren't any other people in the rotunda.
On Wednesday, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) was approached by Capitol Police as she was trying to get answers from Speaker Mike Johnson about negotiating with Democrats over the shutdown. Johnson has refused to have such discussions until the Senate passes his continuing resolution.
The Capitol Police officer took Houlahan by the arm and began to usher her away from the speaker before she informed the officer she was a member of Congress.
@johnnypalmadessa Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s Sergeant at Arms tried to kick Congressmember Maxine Dexter (D-OR) out of Capitol Rotunda. #MikeJohnson #Congress #Shutdown ♬ original sound - Johnny Palmadessa
