Philip Thompson, executive assistant to Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., was arrested Monday after security screeners at the Russell Senate Office Building found a handgun and ammunition in Thompson's briefcase, according to The Washington Post.
Thompson appeared in D.C. Superior Court Tuesday on charges of carrying a handgun without a license and possessing an unregistered handgun and ammunition. Magistrate Judge Richard H. Ringell released Thompson on personal recognizance pending a preliminary hearing set for May 1, The Post reported.
According to charging papers obtained by The Post, Thompson told police he was "safekeeping" the handgun and ammunition, which he alleged belonged to Webb. He had accidentally left both items in his briefcase and had forgotten to take them out prior to entering the building.
Webb declined to discuss specifics when he addressed the incident in a news conference Tuesday, claiming he did not want to prejudice Thompson's case before the D.C. Superior Court. However, he did discuss his views on the issue of gun ownership, according to The Post
"I'm a strong supporter of the Second Amendment," he said. "It's important for me personally and a lot of people in the situation that I'm in to be able to defend myself and my family"
