Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) has officially been issued a court summons following an incident at Dulles International Airport, where authorities discovered a pistol during a security check.
Incident Details
During a routine passenger security screening, TSA agents at Dulles International Airport, located just outside of Washington, D.C., found a .380 caliber handgun in Spartz’s possession.
Upon inspection, the gun was found to be unloaded.
In response to requests for comment, Spartz’s spokesperson stated: “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.”
Background on Rep. Spartz
Representing Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, Spartz has been in office since 2021. She is notably the first Member of Congress to be born in Ukraine. Despite her heritage, Spartz has expressed strong opposition to providing additional funding for Ukraine.
Spartz’s Stance on Ukraine Funding
Spartz voted against the most recent $61 billion aid package for Ukraine on April 20, 2024, citing concerns over the lack of oversight and the need to prioritize U.S. border security and domestic issues. She has consistently called for better management of U.S. funds and opposed what she describes as “blank checks” to Ukraine.
Retirement and Return to Congress
Despite initially announcing her retirement in February 2024, Spartz quickly reversed course and declared she would seek another term in Congress.
In a statement, she explained, “Deciding where your duty lies – family, work, or country, is never an easy task. Earlier last year, I decided to take some time off from running for public office to recharge and spend more time in Indiana with my family.”
This incident isn’t the first of its kind involving a Member of Congress. In 2022, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) received a citation for bringing a gun into Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Virginia law prohibits the possession or transport of a firearm into any air carrier airport terminal. For a first-time violation of this law, the potential punishment can include a fine of up to $2,500 and a maximum jail sentence of 12 months.
It is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
