Capitol Police arrested the communications director for Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle of New York Monday morning after he was caught trying to bring four magazines of ammunition into the U.S. House. Morelle’s office said they fired him, effective immediately.
The communications director for an upstate Democratic congressman was nabbed trying to bring four magazines of ammo into the US House office building Monday morning, according to officials and reports.
“This morning, our office was informed that a member of our staff was arrested by Capitol Police,” said Rep. Joe Morelle’s chief of staff, Jo Stiles, to The Post in a statement.
Stiles later confirmed that the suspect first identified The staffer was identified by Axios as Morelle’s communications director, 38-year-old Michael Hopkins, had been fired.
“In response to this morning’s incident, Mr. Hopkins is no longer employed by Representative Morelle’s office effective immediately,” he said in a statement Monday afternoon.
Capitol Police searched Hopkins’ bag after it went through an X-ray machine and found four ammunition magazines, a Capitol Police rep told the outlet.
“He is facing charges for unlawful possession of ammunition, including one charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine,” the representative said.
Hopkins “told the officers that he forgot the ammunition was in the bag,” the rep added.
Capitol Police did not immediately return a Post request for comment.
Morelle’s office is “fully committed to cooperating with the investigation,” his chief of staff added.
“As Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Morelle is devoted to ensuring a safe and secure workplace for all,” Stiles said in his statement.
Morelle, a former state assemblyman who was first elected to the House in 2018, represents parts of Western New York including portions of Monroe and Orleans counties centered on the city of Rochester.
The congressman, who is the highest-ranking Democrat on the Administration Committee, made headlines over the summer when he and three other senior Democratic House leaders called for President Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
Morelle, alongside Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.), encouraged Biden to step down over fears that he would not be able to beat former President Donald Trump, who would go on to win the election.