Police arrested a congressional staffer Friday for allegedly attempting to carry a pistol into a Capitol Hill office building.
Ryan Shucard, press secretary for Republican Rep. Thomas Marino of Pennsylvania, was charged with a felony count of carrying a pistol without a license when he entered the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., Capitol Police told NBC News.
Police said they discovered Shucard was carrying a handgun and magazine during a routine administrative search required for entry into the building.
Shucard was also placed on unpaid leave, according to Bill Tighe, Marino’s chief of staff.
Shucard joined Marino’s team as press secretary in May. Before serving in his current role, he was a media relations manager for the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Rep. Marino previously received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, which provides members of Congress with a grade that reflects their voting record on gun rights.
The national debate over gun control continues as the two-year mark of the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo. approaches on Sunday.
Michele Richinick