Politics
Supreme Court rejects Marjorie Taylor Greene’s bid to overturn $500 fine
By Jake Beardslee · February 21, 2024
In brief…
- Supreme Court denied appeal from 3 GOP reps fined $500 for not wearing masks on House floor in 2021
- Reps Greene, Massie, and Norman defied mask mandate despite CDC guidance for vaccinated individuals
- Lower courts had upheld fines, saying courts can't review House mask policy
- GOP House Speaker's lawyers urged Supreme Court to reject Republican reps' appeal
The United States Supreme Court has denied an appeal from three Republican representatives who were fined for not wearing face coverings on the House floor in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Ralph Norman of South Carolina sought to overturn the $500 fines imposed for violating the House’s mask mandate, even after “fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing,” according to guidance from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The three lawmakers made headlines when they appeared maskless on the House floor, even posing for a selfie together. The requirement was eventually lifted in June 2021.
Lower courts had previously upheld the fines, determining that the judicial system does not have the authority to review or overturn the House’s mask policy. Although House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and the entire Republican leadership team had voted against implementing the mask mandate, Johnson’s lawyers advocated for the Supreme Court to reject the appeal filed by the Republican representatives who were fined.