A House Democrat staffer working for Joe Morelle was arrested today after Capitol security found ammunition in his bag as he went through security while entering the Capitol.

According to reports, they found four magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition in his bag before arresting him for unlawful possession of ammunition and one charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine.

Via Jake Sherman:

“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. 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. 38-year-old Michael Hopkins was arrested, and he is facing charges for unlawful possession of ammunition, including one charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine.”

 
Sherman is now reporting that the Democrat staffer has been fired by his Congressman:

If it was truly a mistake, then regardless of partisan politics I’d hate to see anyone get fired for such a mistake. But perhaps there is more going on here than we know at this point. Or maybe, Democrats on the Hill are paranoid about such things given their anti-gun politics and they can’t be seen associating with anyone who would have a ‘high capacity’ magazine on them, even by mistake.