Congresswoman Faces Airport Firearm Charge Amid Re-Election Bid

Clear Facts

• Republican Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz was charged with a weapons violation at Washington Dulles International Airport, confirmed by a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) spokesperson.
• The Transportation Security Agency discovered an unloaded .380 caliber firearm in her carry-on luggage, resulting in a misdemeanor charge under Virginia law.
• Rep. Spartz, who is currently seeking re-election, could potentially face a fine up to $15,000 and the suspension of PreCheck eligibility for as much as five years for this violation.

In a recent incident at Virginia’s Washington Dulles International Airport, Rep. Victoria Spartz, a Republican from Indiana, faced a weapons violation charge. Crystal L. Nosal, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), confirmed this charge.

According to the spokesperson, Rep. Spartz was charged under the Virginia law that prohibits the possession or transportation of any dangerous weapons “into any air carrier airport terminal.” This law, specified as “18.2-287.01 of the Virginia code,” classifies such violation as a misdemeanor.

“The Congresswoman was charged under 18.2-287.01 of the Virginia code,” Ms. Nosal stated.

During the screening, officers from the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) discovered an unloaded “.380 caliber firearm” in a carry-on bag.

“Their officers found an unloaded “.380 caliber firearm” during screening in a carry-on bag,” the TSA spokesperson revealed.

According to a representative of Rep. Spartz, she unintentionally carried an empty handgun in her suitcase while preparing for an international trip to Romania for an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

“Last Friday, Rep. Spartz accidentally carried an empty handgun in her suitcase with no magazine or bullets, which she did not realize was in the pocket of her suitcase, while going through security at Dulles airport,” the spokesperson explained.

Rep. Spartz is currently serving her third term in office, having been elected to Congress for the first time in 2020. Notably, she is the first and so far only Ukrainian-born citizen to serve in Congress.

The TSA has the authority to issue a substantial fine for such violations, which can go as high as $15,000. It can also suspend PreCheck eligibility for up to five years. However, it is quite possible that one “can very likely reduce the total amount of the civil penalty” for such charges.

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