Michael Hopkins, communications director for Democratic New York Rep. Joe Morrell, was arrested Monday on suspicion of bringing ammunition into the Cannon House office building.
U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) personnel discovered the ammunition during an X-ray examination Monday morning.
“At approximately 8:45 a.m., House staff entered the Cannon House Office Building and submitted the bags for inspection,” USCP said in a statement. “USCP officers noticed what appeared to be ammunition on an X-ray screen. Officers manually searched the bag and found four ammunition magazines and 11 rounds of ammunition. He told officers he forgot he had ammunition in his bag. 38-year-old Michael Hopkins was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of ammunition, including possession of a high-capacity magazine.”
From the U.S. Capitol Police:
“At approximately 8:45 a.m., House officers entered the Cannon House office building and submitted the bag for inspection. USCP officers noticed what appeared to be ammunition on the X-ray screen. After a manual search, four people were discovered… https://t.co/p0ODHNZLnQ
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 2, 2024
According to Politico, Morrell's office initially said it was looking into the “circumstances of the arrest” and was cooperating fully with the investigation. (Related: Republican Rep. Neil Friske arrested for allegedly chasing stripper while firing gun)
“As the ranking member of the House Administration Committee, Rep. Morrell is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure workplace for everyone,” Morrell's office said in a statement.
Morrell's office later confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation that Hopkins was no longer employed by the lawmaker's office.
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