Texas Congressman’s Chief of Staff Charged for Bringing Firearm into Capitol Complex

Luis Angel Vega, chief of staff to Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), was indicted on two federal counts for carrying an unlicensed pistol and ammunition into a House office building that is part of the U.S. Capitol complex. The alleged incident occurred on December 22, 2025, when security officers discovered the firearm in Vega’s bag during a routine screening. After being instructed to lock the gun in his car and resubmit his bag, Vega returned, passed a second screening, and was allowed entry. He appeared in D.C. Superior Court on June 7, 2026, was handcuffed at the hearing, and was released without bail. A second court appearance is scheduled for June 10.

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The Capitol Police require all individuals entering the Capitol complex to undergo metal-detector screening, except members of Congress and designated staff who are exempt from the bag-check process. Vega’s routine entry with Rep. Sessions—who is listed in the filings as “Witness-1”—relied on that exemption. On the day of the alleged breach, Sessions entered separately, prompting Vega to forget the pistol in his bag and trigger the security alert.

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• Luis Angel Vega – Chief of staff to Rep. Pete Sessions; charged with unlawful conduct on Capitol grounds and carrying a pistol without a license.

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• Rep. Pete Sessions – Republican congressman from Texas; exempt from security screening, cited in the affidavit as “Witness-1.”

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• U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) – Conducted the security screening, recovered the firearm, and provided the affidavit detailing the incident.

The Hill

• U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia – Filed the indictment; declined to comment on the timing of the charges.

The Hill

• Dec 22, 2025 – Black pistol and ammunition found in Vega’s bag during a 6:30 a.m. screening.

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• Dec 22, 2025 (minutes later) – Vega returns with the same bag after locking the gun in his car; passes second screening.

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• Early Dec 2025 – Vega tells USCP in a phone interview he lacks a carry license and usually enters with Sessions.

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• June 5, 2026 – Federal indictment filed; media reports released.

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• June 7, 2026 – Vega’s first court appearance; released without bail.

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• June 10, 2026 – Scheduled second court appearance.

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• Two counts: (1) Carrying a pistol outside his home without a license; (2) Unlawful conduct on Capitol grounds.

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• Firearm description: Black pistol; ammunition also recovered.

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• Security process: Initial detection, instruction to secure weapon in vehicle, re-screening cleared the bag.

The Hill

• A supervisory special agent with USCP confirmed the pistol and ammunition were discovered during the December screening and that Vega complied with the directive to lock the weapon in his car before re-screening.

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• The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to explain why the indictment was issued nearly six months after the incident.

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• A spokesperson for Rep. Sessions’s office did not return requests for comment.

The Hill

Both news outlets note the absence of an official rationale for the six-month gap between the December incident and the June indictment. Critics argue that the delay raises questions about the consistency of enforcement of Capitol security rules, especially given the high-profile nature of congressional staff.

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• No public explanation has been provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding the timing of the charges.

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• Rep. Sessions’s office has not commented, leaving the extent of any internal policy review unknown.

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• The affidavit does not specify whether any additional security protocol changes were implemented after the breach.

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• “The day of the offense was out of the ordinary in that Witness-1 entered the building separately from the defendant and the defendant forgot there was a pistol in his bag,” — Court filings

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• “He was told to take the bag back to his car, then return to the entrance to pass through the metal detectors again.” — USCP affidavit

The Hill

Vega is slated to appear before D.C. Superior Court on June 10, 2026, where the two charges will be formally addressed. The outcome may set a precedent for how Capitol security exemptions are applied to congressional staff in the future.

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