Prosecutors charged 26-year-old Walter Nelson Lewis Jr. with illegal possession of a congressional lapel pin, The Washington Examiner reported.
He is accused of impersonating a congressman after allegedly telling U.S. Capitol Police he was U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga.
Officers were responding to an assault on a member of Congress in the 100 block of Independence Avenue SE at about 1 a.m. Nov. 17, according to court documents. Nelson told police he did not have any identification on him.
Police didn’t believe his story and asked him about the congressional lapel pin. He said it was given to him by an uncle.
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Once officers confirmed Lewis lied about who he was, they arrested him.
The congressional lapel pin is issued to members of Congress, allowing them to bypass security at congressional buildings. Police confirmed the pin was authentic and Lewis was not authorized to have one, reported the Examiner.
If found guilty, he could be fined or spend up to six months in jail.
