House Staff member for Rep. Morrell, D-NY, Arrested for Possession of Ammo, Magazines

Cannon House Office Building.

On Thursday morning, the 28 of November, Thanksgiving day, Capitol police found eleven rounds  of ammunition and four magazines in a bag which Michael Hopkins had put through screening at the Cannon House Office Building. Hopkins is a staff member of Rep. Joe Morelle, D-NY.  From WFIN.com:

“At approximately 8:45 a.m., a House staffer entered the Cannon House Office Building and put his bag through screening. USCP officers noticed what appeared to be ammunition on the x-ray screen,” Capitol Police told Fox News in a statement. 

“After a hand search of the bag, officers found four ammunition magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition. The staffer told the officers that he forgot the ammunition was in the bag,” the statement continued.

Capitol Police say Michael Hopkins, 38, is now facing charges for unlawful possession of ammunition, including one charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine.

Hopkins became the director of communications for representative Morelle in October of 2024, according to Hopkin’s Linkedin account. Hopkins passed the bar in New York State. Hopkin’s shows he has been a contributing writer to The Hill for seven years and five months. Michael Hopkins no longer works for Rep. Joe Morelle, according to Morelle’s chief of staff. From Rollcall magazine:

Hopkins is no longer employed in Morelle’s office “effective immediately,” according to a Monday afternoon statement from Chief of Staff Jo Stiles.

The Administration Committee has oversight over House operations and Capitol security, including jurisdiction over legislative branch support agencies like the Capitol Police.

This correspondent has not found any information about what caliber of ammunition was found in the bag, or what firearm the magazines might have fit.

Analysis: It is not uncommon for people who are shooters to forget about a few rounds of ammunition or some accessories when taking a bag through a security checkpoint. It appears the charges against Mr. Hopkins are District of Columbia statutes. The offenses listed “unlawful possession of ammunition” and “possession of a high capacity magazine” are likely unconstitutional. The magazine prohibition is being challenged in several federal court cases. It is difficult to know how this offense will affect Mr. Hopkins future career. If Mr. Hopkins worked for a pro–Second amendment legislator, he might not have been relieved of his position.

Legislatures are acknowledged as “sensitive places” by the Supreme Court. Administrative offices may or may not be considered “sensitive places” They are not actually part of the legislature. Places which are guarded by armed security are plausible candidates for “sensitive places”.  Attempting to take ammunition into a “sensitive place” might be a more appropriate charge. Congressmen, as I recall, are not required to go through security checkpoints at the Capitol.  This correspondent suspects Michael Hopkins will not have difficulty finding meaningful employment, but perhaps not as a staffer to politicians.

Unfortunately for Mr. Hopkins, his employer is a strong supporter of numerous infringements on the right to keep and bear arms. Rep. Joe Morelle supports an “assault weapon” ban, universal background checks, banning the sale of standard capacity magazines,  mandatory liability insurance for firearms owners, mandatory three day waiting periods for firearm purchases and many others.

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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