Top Democrat’s staffer arrested and fired after alarming discovery in his bag
A staffer for a powerful Democratic member of the House of Representatives on Monday was fired after he was arrested by Capitol police officers after they found gun magazines and rounds of ammunition in his bag.
The Capitol Police revealed in a statement that 38-year-old Michael Hopkins was arrested on Monday morning after he put his bag through x-ray screening at the Cannon House Office Building.
‘USCP officers noticed what appeared to be ammunition on the x-ray screen. After a hand search of the bag, officers found four ammunition magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition,’ the statement read.
Hopkins is a communications director for New York Rep. Joseph D. Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee.
Hopkins told the officers that he forgot the ammunition was in the bag, but he was still arrested by capitol police for charges of ‘unlawful possession of ammunition’ including one charge for ‘possession of a high-capacity magazine.’
Washington, D.C., has strict gun laws, including a 10-round limit on gun magazines and firearms are banned anywhere on the Capitol premises.
‘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 they would cooperate with the investigation and gathering more information on the details surrounding the arrest.
Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y. fired a staffer 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 devoted to ensuring a safe and secure workplace for all,’ the statement read.
Hopkins did not return a DailyMail.com request for comment.
The Committee on House Administration is responsible for House operations and Capitol security.
Staffers entering the capitol have been flagged and arrested before 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 he entered 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 to the lesser charge of attempted possession of an unregistered firearm as part of a plea agreement.
Capitol Hill police also routinely arrest individuals found on Capitol Hill grounds for the possession of firearms.
In November 2023, Capitol Hill police arrested Ahmir Lavon Merrell, 21, for possessing an AR-15 rifle outside the Capitol complex.
All weapons are prohibited on Capitol Hill, even if they are legally registered in another state.