Pork Lobbyist Arrested For Allegedly Trying to Bring Gun Into U.S. Capitol

The U.S. Capitol building is seen Saturday, Nov., 19, 2011, in Washington. The six Democrats and six Republicans of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, often called the Supercommittee, have until next We... The U.S. Capitol building is seen Saturday, Nov., 19, 2011, in Washington. The six Democrats and six Republicans of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, often called the Supercommittee, have until next Wednesday, Nov. 23, to come together on a deficit-cutting plan. Should they not, Congress will face a crummy choice. Lawmakers can allow payroll tax cuts and jobless aid for millions to expire or they extend them and increase the nation's $15 trillion debt by at least $160 billion. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) MORE LESS
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For the second time in less than a week, police arrested a man on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to bring a pistol into a building at the U.S. Capitol, according to Roll Call.

Police found the gun at about 9:20 a.m. when the man went through a security screening at the northeast door of the Cannon House Office Building, according to Roll Call. The man was arrested and led away to a police van at about 9:35 a.m.

Roll Call’s Hannah Hess tweeted a photo of the man being led away from the building in custody:

Roll Call reported the man is Ronald William Prestage, 59, a farm operator and president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council.

The handgun was a 9mm Ruger, according to the NBC affiliate in Washington, WRC.

Capitol Police spokesperson Shennell Antrobus told WRC Prestage would be charged with carrying a pistol without a license.

This incident came only five days after Rep. Tom Marino’s (R-PA) press secretary, Ryan Shucard, was arrested for also allegedly trying to bring a 9mm handgun into the Cannon House Office Building.

“It was a total accident,” Shucard told WRC on Friday.

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Notable Replies

  1. R or D?

    (Laughs maniacally)

  2. Well, if you can’t even remember if your carrying you gun or not, how on Earth are you ever going to spring into action and prevent the evil-doers from doing evil?

  3. I wonder if he’ll get his weapon back. I bet yes.

  4. I am just fine with people taking weapons into Congress. Why should they be any safer than the rest of us?

  5. The National Pork Association lobbyist in Congress? And he’s arrested for trying to carry in a gun? ROFLMAO! So much material, so little time!

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