A senior staff member for Rep. Pete Sessions is facing firearm-related charges months after authorities say he attempted to enter the U.S. Capitol complex with a pistol in his bag during the holiday season.
According to court documents, Luis Vega, the chief of staff to the Texas Republican, was charged Wednesday in connection with an incident that allegedly took place just days before Christmas in 2025. The case has raised questions about security procedures on Capitol grounds while also highlighting the strict regulations governing firearms in and around federal government facilities.
An affidavit filed by a supervisory special agent with the U.S. Capitol Police states that a black pistol and ammunition were discovered inside Vega’s bag during a security screening at a House office building shortly before 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 22.
After the firearm was detected, authorities instructed Vega to return the bag to his vehicle and then come back through the building’s security checkpoint. According to the affidavit, Vega complied and returned to the entrance less than five minutes later carrying the same bag.
A second screening reportedly found no prohibited items. Vega was then permitted to enter the building.
The documents indicate that authorities later conducted a phone interview with Vega several days after the incident. During that conversation, he allegedly acknowledged that he did not possess a license to carry the firearm and that the weapon was not registered in Washington, D.C.
Court records also state that Vega told investigators he normally enters the building alongside Rep. Sessions, who is identified in the documents only as “Witness-1.” According to the affidavit, Vega typically hands his bag to the congressman before entering, allowing the representative to carry it. Members of Congress are not subject to the same administrative screening procedures as staff and visitors.
The filing describes the events of Dec. 22 as unusual. On that particular morning, Sessions reportedly entered the building separately from Vega. The affidavit says Vega later explained that he had forgotten the pistol was inside his bag.
While the case centers on an alleged violation of firearm laws, it also underscores the heightened security environment that surrounds the Capitol complex. Government officials have maintained strict screening procedures in recent years, reflecting ongoing concerns about safety at one of the nation’s most important institutions.
A spokesperson for Sessions’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the charges.
Vega made his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court on Friday. According to CNN, he was released from custody without bail following the hearing.
He now faces two charges: carrying a pistol outside the home without a license and unlawful conduct on Capitol grounds.
One question remains unanswered. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia declined to explain why the charges were not filed until nearly six months after the alleged incident occurred, leaving the timeline of the prosecution unclear as the case moves forward.
