Rep. Lauren Boebert. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesLauren Boebert threw an object at a House staffer, asking her to wear it. Multiple reports have confirmed this.Boebert and other GOP lawmakers were angry at a House mandate for a mask.Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, claimed that the new mandate is not based upon science.Check out more stories from Insider's business page.Multiple reports claim that Lauren Boebert, a Republican legislator, threw a mask at staffers who requested it. This was as many Republican lawmakers refused the mandate to wear masks inside the Capitol.Tuesday's recommendation by the Capitol's physician was to impose the mask requirement on the House floor as well as in meeting spaces. The highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant is rapidly spreading across the US.This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance recommending that all Americans who have been vaccinated continue to wear a mask inside.Boebert, who is a vocal opponent to mask-wearing, entered the House without a mask Wednesday. A Democratic House staffer gave her one and Boebert began throwing it at the staffer. CNN reported that Boebert was citing an eyewitness. The interaction was also reported by the Washington Post, Politico's Sarah Ferris and ABC News's Ben Siegel.Boebert's office didn't immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment. CNN was told by a spokesperson for Boebert that she had "slid" her mask towards the staffer.The spokesperson stated that Rep. Boebert refused to follow Speaker Pelosi’s anti-science, totalitarian mandate for a mask. "Rep. Boebert refused to accept a mask from Speaker Pelosi and made a quick slide across table."Boebert was among several GOP lawmakers to criticize the mask mandate since its inception.She tweeted Wednesday, "We might as well call this a Permademic." Permanent masking. Permanent emergency. Permanent control. This will continue until the American people say enough is enough. "The tyrants won't give up!"Continue the story24 House Republicans did not follow the mask mandateCNN reported that 24 of the House's Republican members were not seen wearing masks on the floor, even though the majority of them wore masks after the mandate was implemented.Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, led the criticisms of the rules. He claimed that the new mandate wasn't based on science.He tweeted Tuesday, "Make no mistake-The threat of bringing back masks is not a decision made based on science but a decision conjured by liberal government officials who wish to continue to live under a perpetual pandemic state."Nancy Pelosi, House Majority leader, called him a "moron" after the reaction.The mandate was also criticized by other GOP lawmakers, including:Rep. Dan Crenshaw claimed that the CDC reached its decision based upon a study done in India, but he did not provide any evidence. The Washington Post reported that the CDC has not released data used to make the decision.CNN reports that Rep. Byron Donalds did not wear a mask while he was on the House floor, despite having said he hadn't been vaccinated. According to the report, he stated that "this rule is stupid".Rep. Chip Roy said on the House floor, "This is some serious and nanny-state stuff which will only breed hatred [...]. We should adjourn the meeting and close the place." CNN reported that he received a standing ovation during his speech from representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Andy Biggs.Business Insider has the original article.
