Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., was charged with a weapons violation at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The charge stemmed from a Virginia law prohibiting the possession or transportation of guns or other dangerous weapons into an airport terminal. The violation is considered a misdemeanor. The incident occurred before Spartz’s international flight to a meeting in Romania.
Spartz’s spokesperson attributed the incident to an accident, stating that she unknowingly had an empty handgun in her suitcase while passing through security at Dulles airport. Spartz, the first Ukrainian-born immigrant in Congress, is seeking re-election in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, rated solidly Republican. She won her primary in May despite facing criticism on various issues.
This is not the first time a lawmaker has faced a weapons violation at an airport. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., was cited in 2022 for having a loaded handgun at an airport security checkpoint in North Carolina. Cawthorn had been stopped twice with a firearm at airports during his time in office and ultimately lost his primary in 2022.
The incident involving Spartz highlights the strict regulations regarding the possession of weapons in airport terminals and serves as a reminder to lawmakers to adhere to these laws. The matter is under investigation, and further developments may arise as the case unfolds.
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