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-Lurid Crime Tales-
House Dem aide out of job after Capitol arrest
2024-12-03
[Axios] A staffer for House Administration Committee ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) is no longer employed after he was arrested Monday morning on suspicion of bringing ammunition into a U.S. House office building.

Why it matters: It's the second time in three years that a congressional staffer has been arrested and charged with possessing ammunition at the Capitol.

  • The last incident, in December 2023, prompted a serious reckoning over Capitol security procedures after Capitol Police took 12 minutes to track down the staffer, who also had a handgun.

    Driving the news: A Capitol Police spokesperson identified the staffer as 38-year-old Michael Hopkins, Morelle's communications director.

  • Capitol Police searched Hopkins' bag after it went through an X-ray machine and found 11 rounds of ammunition and four magazines, the spokesperson said.

  • Hopkins "told the officers that he forgot the ammunition was in the bag," the spokesperson said.

  • He faces charges of unlawful possession of ammunition, including one charge of possession of a high-capacity magazine.

  • The latest: "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 said in a statement Monday afternoon.
    • Posted by:Besoeker

    #2  He should send his resume to MTG.
    Posted by: Super Hose   2024-12-03 13:01  

    #1  ...unlawful possession of ammunition, including one charge of possession of a high-capacity magazine.

    No such thing... cf 2nd Amendment
    Posted by: Mercutio   2024-12-03 12:36  

    00:00