CNN
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GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz was charged on Friday with a weapons violation at Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Airports Authority instructed CNN.
Spartz, a Republican from Indiana, was charged with violating a piece of Virginia regulation that prohibits carrying any gun, explosive or stun weapon into an air service airport terminal, the spokesperson mentioned.
The congresswoman’s workplace mentioned in an announcement that on Friday, Spartz “by chance carried an empty handgun in her suitcase with no journal or bullets, which she didn’t understand was within the pocket of her suitcase, whereas going via safety at Dulles airport.” She obtained a quotation after which flew to the Group for Safety and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Meeting assembly, in keeping with her workplace.
Spartz obtained a summons to look in a Virginia courtroom, in keeping with the Metropolitan Airports Authority spokesperson. The violation is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Requested concerning the incident involving Spartz, a Transportation Safety Administration spokesperson mentioned, “TSA officers at IAD detected a .380 caliber firearm throughout passenger safety screening. The firearm was unloaded and within the particular person’s carry-on bag.”
Spartz, the primary Ukrainian-born member of Congress, was elected to the Home of Representatives in 2020 and emerged as a number one Republican voice for a robust US response to Russia’s invasion before opposing a foreign aid package that included $61 billion for Ukraine earlier this 12 months.
In Might, she gained her hard-fought Republican main for her fifth District seat based mostly within the northeastern Indianapolis suburbs.
This story has been up to date with extra particulars.