Washington’s media world was rocked last week when it was reported that Nelson Lewis, a former Fox News booker and one-time producer for Laura Ingraham, was charged with illegal possession of a congressional lapel pin. The bizarre story goes that on Nov. 17 a man, later identified as Lewis, reported an assault on a member of Congress to U.S. Capitol Police, according to court documents acquired by The Washington Examiner.
When Capitol Police arrived, Lewis was wearing a congressional lapel pin and allegedly identified himself as Rep. Jack Kingston, a Lewis family friend. Lewis apparently also told police that the pin was given to him by an uncle who was a member of Congress who had passed away. Once officers determined Lewis wasn’t a member of Congress, the 26-year-old was arrested.
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Lapel pins are given to members of Congress so they are able to bypass security when entering any congressional building. While Lewis’ pin was verified as authentic, the chatter on Capitol Hill turned to the fact that similar pins are available at official congressional gift stores.
Yeas & Nays went shopping at the Senate gift store inside the U.S. Capitol and at the House gift store inside the Longworth House Office Building, and we found a variety of similar lapel pins. The cheapest one would cost us, or any potential fake congressman, $4.14. The gift stores are open to the public, but shoppers must pass through Hill security.
U.S. Capitol Police did not reply to messages asking whether officers were aware of the souvenir pins and whether they had been trained to determine the difference between real pins and pretend ones.
