By Allison Klein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 26, 2007 5:48 PM

An aide to Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) was charged this morning with trying to carry a loaded pistol into the Russell Senate Office building, Capitol Police said.

The gun was discovered as the staffer passed through an x-ray machine at the C Street entrance at about 10:30 a.m., said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, spokeswoman for the Capitol Police. He also had with him two fully loaded magazines, police said.

He was arrested and charged with carrying a pistol without a license, as well as being in possession of an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition.

In a prepared statement, Webb's office identified the man as Phillip Thompson, and said he is a former Marine.

"To our knowledge, this incident was an oversight by the Senator's aide," said communications director Jessica Smith. "Phillip Thompson is a former Marine, a long-term friend and trusted employee of the Senator. We are still awaiting facts."

D.C. law prohibits persons other than law enforcement officials from carrying handguns in the city.