WASHINGTON, DC — Victoria Spartz, the Republican U.S. Representative from Indiana’s 5th Congressional District who is currently running for re-election, has been charged after allegedly bringing a firearm into a Washington, DC airport.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed to FOX59/CBS4 Monday afternoon that Spartz was charged last Friday, June 28, with a weapons offense at Dulles International Airport.
According to the TSA, agents found a .380-caliber firearm in Spartz’s carry-on bag during screening. The gun was not loaded, authorities said. The airport later took possession of the gun, and Spartz was charged.
The MWAA said Spartz was charged under Virginia Firearms Code Section 18.2-287.01, which states that it is illegal to carry a firearm or weapon inside any airport terminal. The charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
“Last Friday, Representative Spartz accidentally carried an empty handgun, without a magazine or bullets, in her suitcase without realizing it was in the pocket of her suitcase while going through security at Dulles Airport,” Spartz’s team said. “Representative Spartz was issued a citation and continued her international flight to the OSCE PA meeting in Europe.”
Spartz, a 45-year-old Noblesville resident, has served two terms in Congress. She was recently nominated for a third term after defeating nine other Republican candidates in May.
The first and only member of the House of Representatives of Ukrainian descent, Spartz had initially planned to leave Congress last year, choosing not to seek re-election to her House seat and dropping her bid for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Mike Braun.
She later changed her mind and announced a re-election campaign. The vote for the Fifth District seat will take place in November, with Spartz facing Democratic challenger Deborah Pickett.
News Source : fox59.com
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