Capitol Police arrested an unidentified man Wednesday afternoon after security detected a machete in his bag during an X-ray screening at the Capitol Visitor Center. Officers conducting the routine check also discovered three knives.
The discovery occurred around 2 p.m. ET, just hours before President-elect Donald Trump was expected to visit the Capitol to pay his respects to the late President Carter and meet with Republican senators. The man was immediately taken into custody and faces multiple charges of carrying a dangerous weapon, authorities confirmed.
While it remains unclear why the individual attempted to bring the weapons into the Capitol, the incident heightened tensions as mourners gathered to honor Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 100.
The former president, widely respected for his humanitarian efforts after leaving office, began lying in state on Tuesday. The public has been allowed to pay their respects during designated hours leading up to his funeral service on Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral.
In addition to Trump’s planned appearance, President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a eulogy at the funeral. Biden returned to Washington, D.C., Wednesday evening after attending a wildfire briefing in California.
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