Posted on 12/02/2024 12:25:09 PM PST by Signalman
A staffer for Democratic Representative Joe Morelle (D-NY) was arrested on Friday on Capitol Hill after Capitol Police discovered ammunition in his bag during routine security screening at the Cannon House Office Building.
Michael Hopkins, 38, was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition following the incident. According to Capitol Police, Hopkins placed his bag through an X-ray scanner at the security checkpoint, where officers identified suspicious items on the screen. Upon further inspection, they found four ammunition magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition inside his bag, according to WROC.
Hopkins reportedly told officers he had forgotten the ammunition was there, according to investigators. The discovery immediately triggered heightened security measures, although no firearms were found in Hopkins’ possession or linked to the incident. He was taken into custody and faces charges of illegal ammunition possession, including one count for having a high-capacity magazine.
"This morning, our office was informed that a member of our staff was arrested by Capitol Police,” said Congressman Morelle’s Chief of Staff Jo Stiles following the arrest.
“We are currently gathering more information regarding the circumstances of the arrest. Our office is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation. As Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Morelle is devoted to ensuring a safe and secure workplace for all,” Stiles finished.
The arrest has drawn attention to federal laws governing firearms and ammunition in the District of Columbia, which has some of the nation’s strictest regulations. Under D.C. law, possession of ammunition is illegal unless the individual holds a valid firearm registration certificate.
“At approximately 8:45 a.m., a House staffer entered the Cannon House Office Building and put his bag through screening. USCP officers noticed what appeared to be ammunition on the x-ray screen,” Capitol Police revealed in a statement to Fox News.
“After a hand search of the bag, officers found four ammunition magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition. The staffer told the officers that he forgot the ammunition was in the bag,” the statement added.
On Monday morning, Morelle’s office stated that it was in the process of gathering additional information regarding the arrest.
“Our office is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation,” read the statement from Morelle’s office. “As Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Morelle is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure workplace for everyone.”
Congressman Morelle, representing New York’s 25th district, is ironically a strong advocate for comprehensive gun reform. He has sponsored and co-sponsored several legislative measures aimed at reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety.
This arrest comes as lawmakers and their staff continue to navigate heightened scrutiny and intense partisanship in the nation’s capital.
Concur. They have weeks left to get the gun (or, more likely, all its separate parts) inside one by one.
I’d wager a few.
Paging Scaramanga……
The man with the golden gun.
He is a vicious, angry, desperate (er, virtuous) antigun democrat staffer of a determined, crazed democrat Congressional Representative carrying MULTIPLE cartridges and HEAVY, FULLY-LOADED magazines into the Capitol Building in Washington DC in the triangle of four violently antigun states and cities and counties.
It was deliberate. A test, a planned drop for a later assassination or another ballpark area shooting? We don’t know.
You don’t randomly a heavy bag with multiple loaded magazines through security. Unless you expect to get away with it.
What “interest” do we have there,none.
I’ve owned pistols & battle rifles since I was 21 Now in my 60’s never happened to me ever!
Good points, my FRiend.
I hope you are safe and well in this holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Inauguration Day)..
Gwjack
An AI review of Hopkins movements for the past month inside the Capitol Building will easily reveal where he stashed the nug.
Ba da boom ba da bing.
Let him loose and he will lead them right to it...
Some years ago, the columnist Jack Anderson brought a bullet and an unloaded gun into Bob Dole’s office...I don’t think he said how he did it nor did he face charges.
WHERE IS THE GUN?
I’m pretty sure back when Jack Anderson was alive and operating they didn’t have metal detectors and such at the entrance. I remember as a kid going to see the White House and they just let us in.
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