Speaker Johnson Says Anyone Disrupting Netanyahu Speech Will Be Arrested

House Speaker Mike Johnson has issued a warning to his fellow lawmakers in advance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Wednesday, stating that anyone attempting to disrupt the speech will face arrest.

In a letter, Johnson indicated that additional sergeants-at-arms and Capitol Police would be present to manage any disruptions, emphasizing his adoption of a “zero-tolerance” policy towards lawmakers and their guests.

“Should any disturbance occur, the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police will remove the offending visitor(s) from the gallery and subject them to arrest,” Johnson stated. If any lawmakers engage in disruptions, they will be instructed to cease and desist by the sergeant-at-arms.

Protesters are organizing demonstrations outside the Capitol during Netanyahu’s visit, including a planned 5,000-person “march” demanding the arrest of the Israeli prime minister, as reported by the Daily Wire.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has officially emerged as the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, will not oversee Netanyahu’s address. Instead, she will attend a separate event for the historically-black Zeta Phi Beta sorority, according to the Times of Israel. The chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Ben Cardin, will preside over the joint session in her place.

Johnson criticized Harris for “abandoning her seat” and deemed her absence “inexcusable.”

In 2015, during Netanyahu’s last address to a joint session of Congress, nearly 60 Democrats chose not to attend. This time, a greater number of Democrats are anticipated to boycott the speech.

On Tuesday, hundreds of anti-Israel protesters assembled inside the Capitol’s Cannon Building, prompting staff and interns to barricade themselves in their offices, as reported by Fox News. Several demonstrators were arrested. Johnson announced that there will be an increased police presence around the Capitol complex and the House Chamber.

The prime minister is set to deliver his speech at 2 p.m. EDT.

In the meantime, Bill Maher, the host of HBO’s “Real Time,” criticized Harris and her chances of defeating former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.

Maher condemned Harris for her lack of likability and reminded the audience that she received no delegates during her bid for the Democratic nomination in 2020.

“Yes, replacing a president as the party’s candidate at this late stage will appear significant,” Maher remarked. “For about three days, and then we will all move on.”

He mentioned several possible Democratic alternatives to Biden, such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Should she win in November, Harris would make history as the first female, first black woman, and first Asian president — none of which impressed Maher.

“I do not vote for who will be the first; I vote for who will win, and for whatever reason, Harris has never gained popularity,” Maher stated before criticizing Harris’ unsuccessful presidential campaign from four years ago.

“You can count the number of delegates she secured in the 2020 primaries on one hand, provided that hand has no fingers. In her three years as vice president, she has been quieter than an electric car,” Maher commented.

After reproaching the vice president for her handling of the U.S. southern border when Biden designated her as the ‘border czar,’ Maher expressed confusion over why Harris was not more favored, despite her being “intelligent and accomplished.”

Harris is already confronting a challenging path as she seeks to become the Democratic nominee and face Trump. In a Fox News interview, contributor Ari Fleischer discussed the notion of Democrats experiencing “buyer’s remorse” regarding Harris.

“Perhaps this is one of the reasons they have refrained from taking a stance. What Ryan mentioned, I believe the Democrats will indeed have buyer’s remorse here.