Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz Faces Weapons Charge at Dulles Airport

Incident Overview

Victoria Spartz, a Republican congresswoman from Indiana’s fifth district, was charged with a weapons violation at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. This incident occurred on Friday as Spartz was on her way to Europe for a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

Details of the Violation

According to Axios, Spartz was stopped and cited for having a pistol in her carry-on bag. Carrying firearms in carry-on luggage is illegal, though they can be transported in checked baggage. A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed that Spartz was charged and received a summons to appear in a Virginia court.

TSA’s Findings

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported to Axios that their officers found a .380 caliber firearm during a security screening. The handgun was not loaded, as officials confirmed.

Official Statements

Spartz’s representative did not comment to the Guardian but confirmed the citation to the Washington Post. The statement explained that Spartz unintentionally carried an empty handgun without a magazine or bullets, which she had forgotten was in her suitcase pocket.

Political Background of Spartz

Spartz, who has been in office since 2021, drew attention for her “present” votes during the lengthy House speaker election, ultimately won by Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy was later removed from his position. Initially, Spartz announced she would not seek a third term but later reversed this decision and won her Republican primary. She is favored in the upcoming November election.

Related Incidents

Spartz is not the only Republican to face firearm-related citations recently. In 2022, former Congressman Madison Cawthorn from North Carolina was cited for carrying a loaded gun through a security checkpoint at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. A year earlier, Cawthorn had carried an unloaded handgun and a loaded magazine in his carry-on at Asheville Regional Airport, which was returned to him after his flight.

Conclusion