Pa. Congressional Aide Pleads Not Guilty to Gun Charge

An aide to a Pennsylvania congressman has pleaded not guilty to a weapons charge after he tried to bring a handgun into a federal office building in Washington, D.C.

Ryan Shucard is a press secretary for U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-10th). Shucard was arrested Friday by Capitol police when he attempted to enter the Cannon House Office Building with a Smith and Wesson 9 mm handgun, as well as a magazine clip, NBC 10 reported.

The gun was found during a routine security X-ray, NBC said. Shucard, who is licensed to carry in his home state of Virginia, told NBC "It was a total accident," that he brought the gun and ammunition with him to work.

“We were informed by Capitol Police that we shouldn’t treat this as anything other than an accident,” Bill Tighe, Marino's chief of staff, told The Wall Street Journal.

Still, Shucard has been placed on unpaid leave by Marino, NBC said.

Shucard on Saturday pleaded not guilty to a felony count of carrying a pistol without a license, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. 

Shucard's attorney on Sunday reiterated to The Associated Press that the incident had been an accident.

Shucard has been released on his own recognizance.