Intern accused of bringing an unloaded gun to Capitol Hill is released from jail

Joshua Wheeler, the 25-year-old House intern who Capitol Police say tried to bring an unloaded 9 mm handgun into the Longworth House Office Building, was released from jail Tuesday on felony and misdemeanor firearms charges.

Wheeler has been ordered to stay away from the Capitol, where he started a summer internship for Rep. Lynn Jenkins, a Kansas Republican, on May 18. But he intends to return to work for Jenkins as soon as possible, according to defense attorney Pierce Suen.

Standing before the judge in a tan suit, Wheeler was described as “well liked” in Jenkins’ office. Suen said the congresswoman’s chief of staff would vouch for him.

“He’s worked really hard to get to this position — to get to this point in his life,” Suen said.

Despite his attorney’s request, it’s not clear that Jenkins wants Wheeler back. No decision has been made regarding the completion of Wheeler’s congressional internship since he was arrested and placed on temporary leave Monday morning, Jenkins’ spokesman Tom Brandt told CQ Roll Call.

Capitol Police arrested Wheeler shortly after 9 a.m. at the New Jersey Avenue and C Street entrance to Longworth. Police said he placed an unloaded 9 mm weapon onto the X-ray belt, which was found during a routine search. According to an eyewitness, the gun was in his bag.

A D.C. Superior Court judge acknowledged Wheeler obviously misunderstood the district’s strict gun laws and noted he had no criminal record. However, the judge rejected his attorney’s request that he be allowed to return to Capitol grounds as long as he doesn’t carry a firearm.

The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia is prosecuting the case. Carrying a pistol is a felony, punishable by a statutory maximum of five years in prison, according to spokesman Bill Miller. Carrying an unregistered firearm is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

This story was originally published June 2, 2015 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Intern accused of bringing an unloaded gun to Capitol Hill is released from jail."