Atchison intern arrested trying to enter U.S. Capitol with a gun

WASHINGTON – U.S. Capitol Police arrested a Kansas man Monday morning when he tried to enter a House office building with an unloaded gun.

The accused, Joshua Wheeler, 25, was an intern with Republican Rep. Lynn Jenkins, a spokesman confirmed.

“Mr. Wheeler used poor judgment and was immediately placed on temporary leave,” said Tom Brandt, the congressman’s spokesman.

Capitol Police Lt. Kimberly Schneider said in a statement that Wheeler, of Atchison, Kansas, was charged with carrying a pistol without a license and possessing an unregistered firearm and taken into custody.

She said that a search of Wheeler, required for entry into congressional buildings, allegedly turned up an unloaded Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun.

This story was originally published June 1, 2015 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Atchison intern arrested trying to enter U.S. Capitol with a gun."