Rep. Victoria Spartz, a Republican from Indiana, has been charged with a weapons violation at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed the charge on Friday, citing a Virginia state law that prohibits the possession or transportation of firearms or other dangerous weapons into an airport terminal. The violation is classified as a misdemeanor.
Spartz, who is the first Ukrainian-born immigrant serving in Congress, is seeking re-election in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, which is rated as solidly Republican by the Cook Political Report. She won her primary in May, despite facing criticism for her support of Ukraine aid and other issues.
This incident is not the first time a lawmaker has been charged with a weapons violation at an airport. In 2022, then-Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a Republican from North Carolina, was cited for having a loaded handgun at a security checkpoint in his home state. He had been stopped twice with a firearm at an airport during his two years in office and subsequently lost his primary in 2022.
Rep. Spartz’s office has not commented on the charge, and it is unclear how this incident may impact her re-election campaign. NBC News has reached out to her for further comment.
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