PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Maine’s Democratic house speaker stripped seven conservative lawmakers of committee assignments on Monday after the group had a confrontation with Capitol Police about mask rules in the Maine State House.

Republican Rep. Laurel Libby released a video of the confrontation, in which the lawmakers entered the state house without masks on. A Capitol Police officer approached the group, and members said they weren’t required to wear masks and continued on.

The lawmakers’ actions came after the Legislative Council decided last week along party lines to require masks when lawmakers return to the state house, even though a statewide requirement is ending. House Speaker Ryan Fecteau said the mask rules are about demonstrating “a respect for our shared workplace” and shouldn’t be a partisan issue.

“I simply will not tolerate attempts to devolve our institution into showmanship and political theater,” Fecteau said in a public letter to the members of the Maine House of Representatives on Monday.

Libby and the other members, some of whom are prominent critics of mask rules in the state, will be replaced by Democrats on their committees, according to documents filed by Fecteau.

Maine Republican leaders said the lawmakers were unnecessarily impeded while attempting to enter the state house for legislative business.

“When it became clear that Capitol Security and nonpartisan staff lacked the legal authority and or applicable policies to prevent our entry, we proceeded into the State House to complete our work,” the seven lawmakers said in a statement.

The dust-up at the Maine State House took place as relaxed mask rules were taking effect in the rest of the state. The new rules meant residents no longer needed to wear face coverings indoors in most situations.

Maine residents, with the exception of state employees, can go maskless in most indoor settings, except for schools and day care.