At approximately 10:50 a.m. the staffer entered the Russell Senate Office Building through the lower Delaware and C Street Door, according to Kimberly Schneider, spokeswoman for the Capitol Police. The X-ray machine revealed that the aide had a loaded pistol and two additional magazines of ammunition.

Upon questioning, the Capitol Police determined the staffer did not have a license for the pistol or ammunition. Consequently, he was arrested and charged with carrying a pistol without a license and with being in possession of an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition.

“To our knowledge, this incident was an oversight by the Senator’s aide,” Webb’s office said in a statement. “Phillip Thompson is a former Marine, a long-term friend and trusted employee of the Senator. We are still awaiting facts.”