{"id":2375933,"date":"2024-12-04T02:43:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T07:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/staffer-for-democratic-congressman-arrested-by-capitol-police\/"},"modified":"2024-12-04T02:47:39","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T07:47:39","slug":"staffer-for-democratic-congressman-arrested-by-capitol-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/staffer-for-democratic-congressman-arrested-by-capitol-police\/","title":{"rendered":"Staffer for Democratic Congressman Arrested by Capitol Police"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstaffer-for-democratic-congressman-arrested-by-capitol-police%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2375933&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>On December 2, \u20642024, Michael hopkins, a staff member for Democratic Representative Joe Morelle of New York, was arrested by U.S.Capitol Police after attempting to\u200c bring ammunition into the Cannon House office Building. Hopkins, who had just started his role as communications\u2064 director that very day, was\u200d found to possess four ammunition\u2063 magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition\u2062 in his bag\u2063 during a security screening.he\u2063 reportedly claimed that he forgot the ammunition was inside his \u2062bag.<\/p>\n<p>Following\u200c this incident,\u2064 Morelle&#8217;s office quickly announced that Hopkins was terminated from his position. The \u200bCongressman, known \u200cfor\u200b his advocacy in\u200c favor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-dems-pass-gun-control-bills-that-would-dramatically-increase-wait-times\/\" title=\"House Dems Pass Gun-Control Bills That Would Dramatically Increase Wait Times\">stricter gun laws<\/a>, stated that the office \u2064would fully cooperate with \u200dthe examination and emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe \u200bwork environment. The charges against Hopkins include unlawful possession of ammunition and possession \u200dof a \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-gun-policies-concern-second-amendment-advocates\/\" title=\"Biden gun policies concern Second Amendment advocates\">high-capacity magazine<\/a>. this occurence has drawn\u2064 attention not only due to its circumstances but also because of its contrast with Morelle&#8217;s legislative stance on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-dems-balk-at-passing-major-gun-control-reforms-ahead-of-election\/\" title=\"Virginia Dems Balk at Passing Major Gun-Control Reforms Ahead of Election\u00a0\">gun reform<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A since-fired staff member of the office of a Democratic member of Congress from New York state was arrested Monday after attempting to bring ammunition into a House office building.<\/p>\n<p>United States Capitol Police arrested Michael Hopkins, 38, who has been charged with unlawful possession of ammunition, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochesterfirst.com\/crime\/staff-member-of-congressman-morelle-arrested-by-capitol-police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WROC-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Hopkins began Monday as the communications director for Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle of New York but was fired after the incident.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Fox News reporter Chad Pergam <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ChadPergram\/status\/1863631070538649856\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">posted on X<\/a>, citing a statement from Capitol Police.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; the Capitol Police statement said.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">USCP: &ldquo;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&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChadPergram\/status\/1863631070538649856?\">December 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/liberals-play-guns-democrat-involved-shooting-accident-bullet-fragment-hits-reporter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> said Hopkins &ldquo;is facing charges for unlawful possession of ammunition, including one charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Michael Hopkins, who works for Democrat Rep.Joe Morelle, was arrested for bringing ammunition into the Capitol. Hopkins likely forgot he had ammunition in his bag. But the story of Michael Hopkins shows that elected Dems and their staff are cool with themselves having guns, but&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mDYd7cFj0X\">pic.twitter.com\/mDYd7cFj0X<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheCharlesDowns\/status\/1863633151958126836?\">December 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Later in the day, Morelle&rsquo;s office said Hopkins had been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dem-senator-cardins-words-come-back-haunt-staffer-fired-following-gay-porn-scandal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dismissed<\/a>, according to WROC-TV.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In response to this morning&rsquo;s incident, Mr. Hopkins is no longer employed by Rep. Morelle&rsquo;s office effective immediately,&rdquo; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>An earlier statement from Chief of Staff Jo Stiles noted that the incident had taken place.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This morning, our office was informed that a member of our staff was arrested by Capitol Police. We are currently gathering more information regarding the circumstances of the arrest,&rdquo; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our office is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation. As Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Morelle is devoted to ensuring a safe and secure workplace for all.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BREAKING: The US Capitol Police just arrested Michael Hopkins, a staff member for Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), after he was found with multiple ammo magazines and eleven other rounds while trying to enter the Cannon House Office Building. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ne0ggfSu4z\">pic.twitter.com\/ne0ggfSu4z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/libsoftiktok\/status\/1863653433560977781?\">December 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Hopkins was hired as Morelle&rsquo;s communications director this fall, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/2024\/12\/02\/capitol-police-arrest-morelle-staffer-after-finding-ammunition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Roll Call<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Morelle has taken a strong position in support of legislation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-federal-judge-refuses-block-biden-administration-rule-gun-sales-kansas-19-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cracking down<\/a> on gun ownership.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve spent my entire career fighting for gun reform, and it&rsquo;s one of my top priorities in Congress. Together we have made progress, but there is still so much work to do to keep families safe,&rdquo; he said in a news release on his <a href=\"https:\/\/morelle.house.gov\/issues\/enacting-common-sense-gun-reform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The site noted that Morelle has sponsored legislation to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">ban high-capacity magazines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A former staff member of a New York Democratic congressman was arrested for trying to bring ammunition into a House office building. Michael Hopkins, 38, was taken into custody by Capitol Police and charged with unlawful possession of ammunition. He had just started his role as communications director for Rep. Joe Morelle but was fired after the incident. Officers discovered four ammunition magazines and eleven rounds in his bag during screening at the Cannon House Office Building, where he claimed to have forgotten about them. Morelle&#8217;s office confirmed Hopkins&#8217; dismissal later that day and expressed their commitment to cooperating with the investigation while emphasizing their dedication to workplace safety<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2375934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Cannon-Building.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5175,37907,46058,5894,6566],"class_list":["post-2375933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-arrest","tag-capitol-police","tag-democratic-congressman","tag-politics","tag-staffer"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Cannon-Building.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2375933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2375933"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2375933\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2375937,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2375933\/revisions\/2375937"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2375934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2375933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2375933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2375933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}