Heritage Foundation Staff Member Arrested at Senate Office Building

Incident at the Russell Senate Office Building

A staff member from the Heritage Foundation was taken into custody after US Capitol Police discovered ammunition and suspected narcotics in his briefcase while he was trying to enter a Senate office building in Washington, DC. Matthew Christopher Wingate was apprehended on July 14 as he attempted to pass through security at the Russell Senate Office Building, as per court documents obtained by NOTUS.

Authorities reported that an X-ray examination of his briefcase indicated the presence of a pistol magazine, leading officers to conduct a more thorough search. An affidavit submitted to the Superior Court in Washington, DC, revealed that Wingate initially claimed there "shouldn't be" a magazine in his bag. Investigators later found a loaded pistol magazine containing 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Although Wingate possessed a valid firearm carry license in Washington, DC, firearms are strictly prohibited within Senate office buildings.

During a further inspection of the briefcase, officers allegedly discovered a plastic sandwich bag with four capsules and three blue pills. Court filings indicated that the pills tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. Wingate, who is the Heritage Foundation's director of government relations for defense and foreign policy and has previously worked for Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Ted Cruz, was arrested and taken into custody. According to court documents, Wingate stated during questioning that he had forgotten the magazine was in his briefcase and claimed the drugs were prescribed to him by a medical professional.

The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank known for developing Project 2025, a policy framework advocating for a significant increase in executive power and extensive changes to the federal government. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump stated he was unaware of Project 2025, despite several of its proposals being reflected in policies introduced during his second term. Court records indicate that Wingate was released after being charged with a misdemeanor and is scheduled to appear in court on August 27.