A 44-year-old man from Washington, D.C., accused of attempting to smuggle a machete and three additional knives into the Capitol Visitor Center, was released from custody following a court hearing. Authorities allege that Mel J. Horne tried to pass through a security checkpoint, placing two pocket knives and a box cutter in a plastic tray before a search of his bag revealed the machete, Fox reports.

United States Capitol Police officers prevented a man from bringing a machete and three knives passed a screening checkpoint in the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC), just after 2 p.m. The machete and knives discovered in his bag, as it went through X-ray maching.

— Billy House (@HouseInSession) January 8, 2025

Horne was granted a conditional pre-trial release in D.C.’s Superior Court, with an order to stay away from the Capitol. According to the criminal complaint, Horne claimed he was visiting the Capitol to attend former President Jimmy Carter’s lying-in-state ceremony and said the weapons were for landscaping work. However, officers noted that the city was under a snow emergency, with over six inches of snow on the ground, and Horne admitted he was not traveling to or from a landscaping job. He also disclosed that he was homeless and carried the items with him regularly.

Horne’s arrest occurred the same day President-elect Donald Trump visited the Capitol to honor former President Carter. U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger commended his officers, stating, “Our officers know they cannot let their guard down for one second. It is this constant focus and attention to detail that helps keep this campus safe.”

Court documents reveal Horne has a history of legal troubles. In 2022, his parents filed a civil complaint seeking his removal from their home, citing alleged drug use, violent behavior, and safety concerns. His mother claimed Horne used PCP, which she said made him aggressive and difficult to manage. The case was dismissed after Horne agreed to leave the property, with permission to return only to tend to bonsai trees in the yard.

Horne’s arrest last week marks another troubling chapter. Capitol Police documents identify him as a prior felon, though details of his previous conviction remain unclear. In this latest case, Horne faces multiple charges of carrying a dangerous weapon after officers discovered the machete and three folding knives during the security screening process.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.