A 44-year-old man from Washington, D.C., who was accused of attempting to smuggle a machete and three knives into the Capitol Visitor Center, has been released from custody. The man, identified as Mel J. Horne, allegedly tried to pass through security with two pocket knives and a box cutter in a plastic tray.
Authorities discovered the machete in his bag during a search. Horne claimed he was carrying the weapons for landscaping work and was visiting the U.S. Capitol to attend Former President Carter's Lying in State Funeral. However, he admitted to not being on his way to a landscaping job and stated that he carries these items with him everywhere due to being homeless.
President-elect Donald Trump was attending the Carter memorial on the same day Horne was apprehended. Horne had been living with his parents until they sought his removal in 2022 due to alleged substance abuse issues and violent behavior.
Despite being a prior felon, details of Horne's previous conviction remain unclear. He now faces multiple charges of carrying a dangerous weapon.
Separately, another individual, Adrian J. Hinton, 35, was arrested for attempting to set a car on fire outside the Grant Memorial. Authorities have stated that the two incidents are not connected.
The arrests did not disrupt the Carter memorial proceedings, which were held to honor the late former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on December 29.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger emphasized the importance of vigilance in maintaining campus safety, highlighting the need for constant attention to detail.
