An aide to a powerful Democratic member of the House of Representatives was fired Monday after he was arrested by Capitol police officers after they found gun magazines and ammunition in his bag.
Capitol Police revealed in a statement that 38-year-old Michael Hopkins was arrested Monday morning after X-raying his bag at the Cannon House Office Building.
“USCP officers saw what appeared to be ammunition on the x-ray screen. After hand searching the bag, officers found four ammunition magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition,” the statement said.
Hopkins is communications director for New York Rep. Joseph D. Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee.
Hopkins told officers he forgot the ammunition was in the bag, but he was arrested anyway by Capitol Police on charges of “unlawful possession of ammunition,” including one charge of “possession of a high-capacity magazine.” .
Washington, DC, has strict gun laws, including a ten-round limit on gun magazines, and firearms are prohibited anywhere in the Capitol.
“In response to this morning’s incident, Mr. Hopkins is no longer employed by Representative Morelle’s office, effective immediately,” Morelle’s chief of staff Jo Stiles told reporters in a statement.
Earlier Monday, Morelle’s office said in a statement that they would cooperate with the investigation and gather more information about the details surrounding the arrest.
Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y. fired an employee after he was arrested by Capitol Police for entering the building with gun ammunition in his bag
“Our office is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation. As ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Morelle is committed to ensuring a safe workplace for all,” the statement said.
Hopkins did not return requests for comment from DailyMail.com.
The House Management Committee is responsible for the activities of the House and the security of the Capitol.
Staffers entering the capital have previously been flagged and arrested for possessing illegal weapons on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Capitol Police arrested 38-year-old Michael Hopkins for having ammunition in his bag
Michael Hopkins was fired from his communications position in Rep. Joseph D. Morelle’s office on Capitol Hill
Jeffrey Allsbrooks, a logistics manager at the House Chief Administrative Office, was arrested by Capitol Police in 2021 after entering the capitol complex with a gun in his bag.
Allsbrooks told police he forgot he had the gun in his bag and pleaded not guilty.
He was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of unregistered ammunition and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.
In 2022, Allsbrooks pleaded guilty of the lesser charge of attempted possession of an unregistered firearm as part of a plea bargain.
Capitol Hill Police also routinely arrest individuals found on Capitol Hill grounds for possession of firearms.
In November 2023, Capitol Hill police arrested Ahmir Lavon Merrell, 21, for possession of an AR-15 rifle outside the Capitol complex.
All guns are banned on Capitol Hill, even if they are legally registered in another state.