Updated 6:35 p.m. | Capitol Police arrested a member of the Marine Corps congressional fellowship program Tuesday afternoon for having a loaded gun on congressional property.  

Gunnery Sergeant Peter Boby was arrested after officers discovered loaded .45 caliber handgun in his vehicle during a routine vehicle inspection outside of the Rayburn House Office Building. USCP spokesperson Lt. Kimberly A. Schneider said in a statement, “At approximately 2:00 pm today at Washington Avenue and C Street, SW, USCP officers were conducting administrative security screening required for entry into the secure perimeter.  Officers discovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun in a vehicle.” Boby was charged with carrying a pistol without a license, unregistered ammunition, and unregistered firearm. Schneider said he is being processed at USCP headquarters on D Street NE.  

“[Boby] is an active duty Marine. He is a gunnery sergeant and he is assigned as a congressional fellow,” Major Paul Greenberg, a Marine Corps spokesman, told CQ Roll Call when reached by phone Tuesday afternoon. The Marine Corps did not offer a comment on Boby’s arrest.  

According to the database Legistorm, Boby has been working as the U.S. Marine Corps congressional fellow in California GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter’s office since January 2015. Boby is one of 10 Marine Corps fellows working in the House.  

When reached for comment, Hunter called Boby “a top notch performer.”  

“He’s a hero who’s seen combat, who’s been wounded and who’s been in good standing with the Marine Corps throughout,” Hunter said. “We are still getting the facts but this was most likely an accident. There’s no reason to suggest it was intentional.”  

Joe Kasper, a spokesman for Hunter, was noncommittal about whether Boby would continue to work in the congressman’s office. “He’s a marine first and foremost. And his fellowship is part of his assigned duties as a U.S. marine.  

“So a lot will depend on the considerations given by the Marine Corps once the facts are available and Representative Hunter will also look at those same facts too.”  

See photos, follies, HOH Hits and Misses and more at Roll Call’s new video site.


Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.