Congress is investigating two security incidents that allegedly occurred on the days when President Donald Trump made his two most recent speeches at the U.S. Capitol this year, at least one involving a gun and another raising concerns about whether a metal detector was evaded, a House official told Just the News.

House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., disclosed on Monday night that the reported incidents have been referred for investigation to the U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General's office. 

"There are serious allegations as to what you just mentioned, regarding individuals who have attempted or who have brought weapons into the United States Capitol," Steil told the "Just the News, No Noise" television show. "There is a full investigation ongoing into this. We have an inspector general report due in the near future."

Full Transparency

The most recent episode was on March 4 and recorded in a Capitol Police incident report. That report described a gun in a backpack, while the earlier — and as of yet, unproven — episode dating to Trump's Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 is not in a police file but was recently brought to the attention of congressional leaders by the House sergeant-at-arms, officials said Monday. 

Asked whether both incidents involved guns, Steil demurred but promised full transparency when the inquiry is over.

"I don't want to get ahead of that investigation, but what I am committed to is making sure that we keep the U.S. Capitol campus both open to the American public, so that they can come and meet with their members of Congress, but also secure so those visitors, members and staff members are all safe," said Steil, whose panel has oversight of Capitol security.

The gun incident

A Capitol Police report reviewed by Just the News confirms that a suspect tried to enter a House office building on the Capitol campus on March 4 — the day of Trump's address to a joint session of Congress — when an X-ray machine flagged a possible weapon inside the person's backpack.

"The Suspect was detained by A/O, while R/O conducted a physical search of the backpack," the report said. "R/O discovered a handgun with a 15 round capacity magazine loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. The Suspect was placed under arrest and transported to Headquarters for processing," the report said.

The report added that police "conducted an inquiry with MPD Gun Registration Unit which revealed the Suspect has an active Concealed Carry License for the District of Columbia, and the firearm has a valid registration." The suspect was not identified by name.

Officials said lawmakers are still concerned that the suspect was not authorized to enter the Capitol complex with a gun — which requires permission — and also about evidence suggesting the person may have brought the same gun into the complex at least one earlier time without being stopped.

House Speaker Mike Johnson's office said Monday it is aware of the March 4 "gun" incident.

"The Speaker's Office is aware of the incident — and will work with the relevant House Committees to obtain much-needed answers," Johnson's office said in a written statement to Just the News. "These allegations represent another serious security breach and they will be thoroughly investigated and appropriately addressed."

The "metal detector incident"

The same officials said Monday that lawmakers also were recently alerted by the House sergeant at arms to an allegation of an earlier security incident in which a woman who entered the Capitol on Inauguration Day allegedly avoided going through a metal detector. 

Because that person has ties to law enforcement there is additional concern she may have been carrying a weapon, but officials cautioned there has been no definitive finding yet by the Capitol Police Inspector General. The incident has not been proven to have occurred. 

Capitol Police told Just the News it has no official records of such an incident occurring on Jan. 20. “We have no indication that any of this is true or accurate,” the USCP Public Information Office told Just the News. Additionally, “No complaints were presented to the Chief or our Office of Professional Responsibility.” 

The office referred any further requests to the Capitol Police Inspector General. The inspector general's office, which is an independent body, did not immediately return a request for comment Monday evening.

Chain of security lapses

The inquiry into alleged security lapses at the inaugural address for the incoming president and then his official address to a joint session of Congress comes after major security failures were identified by investigators during the 2024 election surrounding two assassination attempts against Trump. The one in Butler, Pennsylvania, was less than an inch from being fatal and wounded his ear. Another attempt was stopped before it could start in Florida. 

After these incidents, the Secret Service has endeavored to ramp up the president’s security in the face of significant threats, including assassination plots from the regime in Iran. 

The Secret Service referred Just the News to Capitol Police for any comment, including whether the presidential security agency was alert to either allegation.

Security risks for legislators too

Similarly, a Democratic congressional staffer was arrested at a House office building for attempting to bring several rounds of ammunition through a secure entrance. The staffer, identified as Michael Hopkins, told law enforcement that he forgot the magazines were in his bag.

Hopkins served as the communications director for Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., and is facing charges for unlawful possession of ammunition and a high-capacity magazine. He was subsequently terminated from his position. 

The January 6 riots spark scrutiny

The Capitol Police have faced scrutiny recently after congressional investigators discovered major security failures during and related to the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol Building, showing that the police force dedicated to protecting Members of Congress and the legislative building sometimes struggled to do so.

For example, Just the News previously reported on several incidents during the Jan. 6 riot including officers abandoning a bag full of plastic handcuffs which were subsequently used by protestors, leaving a Capitol Building door unlocked for protesters to enter, and a failure to adequately address intelligence warnings in the lead-up to the riot. 

Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., who led that inquiry, released a report in December that alleged that the largely Democrat-led Jan. 6th Select Committee “wholeheartedly failed to address security failures on January 6, 2021.” Loudermilk warned, “As a result, the Capitol is no safer today than it was at the creation of the Select Committee." 

The Capitol Police also faces scrutiny from congressional Republicans about the officer who shot Jan. 6 protestor Ashli Babbitt after they discovered the officer, Captain Michael Byrd, had a lengthy disciplinary record that included firearm-related incidents. 

He was never charged with criminal wrongdoing and internal Capitol Police emails show that in the wake of the shooting, Democratic House leadership pressed the Capitol Police to provide financial assistance and other support to Byrd that far surpassed any benefits offered to other officers, Just the News previously reported.