Man Arrested for Entering U.S. Capitol with Gun Following Security Breach

A man identified as James A Faber, who hails from Massachusetts, has been taken into custody for illegally entering the U.S. Capitol building while armed. The arrest occurred on Tuesday, and he faces multiple charges including possession of a firearm without a license and resisting arrest. Upon his entry into the Capitol Visitor Center, he set off metal detectors; however, a search conducted at that moment failed to uncover his gun.

Faber, 27 years old, was located following a report concerning his mental health, which suggested he might be suicidal and armed. Officers identified his vehicle around 1:15 PM and confirmed that he had participated in a tour of the Capitol. Approximately an hour after the tour, he was spotted exiting the Library of Congress and walking back to his car, at which point he was stopped and searched.

During the search, a 9mm handgun was found concealed in his waistband, leading to his arrest for several violations, including unlawful possession of ammunition. Investigations into the officer's conduct during the security screening are ongoing, and the incident has raised questions regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of security protocols at the Capitol. Although security footage showed Faber bypassing the search without detection, officials reported that there was no evidence suggesting he intended to harm anyone in Congress. The U.S. Capitol Police have since announced a comprehensive review of the security incident and initiated mandatory retraining for staff to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The case is now with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for further proceedings.