Washington State Sen. Jeff Wilson Arrested, Charged Over Firearm in Bag at Hong Kong Airport

Passengers walk through the Hong Kong International Airport on Dec. 8, 2022. Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images

A Washington state senator was arrested at the airport in Hong Kong on Oct. 20 after discovering a firearm in his carry-on bag that was not licensed there, according to a statement from his office.

Republican state Sen. Jeff Wilson was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm and released two days later after posting bail of 20,000 Hong Kong dollars ($2,556), The Standard reported.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of seven to 14 years in jail and a fine of up to HK$100,000 (about $12,800) under Hong Kong’s strict gun control laws, which state that no individual is allowed to possess any arms or ammunition unless they hold a license from the Commissioner of Police.

Mr. Wilson is set to appear for a hearing on the matter on Oct. 30.

According to his office, the Republican senator was traveling with his wife and was on the first leg of a five-week personal vacation to Southeast Asia when he discovered the pistol in his carry-on luggage while mid-flight between San Francisco and Hong Kong.

While the pistol, reportedly a .38 caliber revolver, was not registered in Hong Kong, it is properly registered in Washington state, and Mr. Wilson holds a concealed pistol license, his office said.

The lawmaker—who is the ranking member of the Senate State Government & Elections Committee, and also sits on the Housing and Local Government, Human Services, and Transportation committees—said he had flown to Hong Kong from Portland International Airport where he had passed through airport security.

However, baggage screeners at Portland International Airport failed to detect the gun, his office said.

‘An Honest Mistake’

Mr. Wilson “felt his unloaded revolver inside” when he reached into his briefcase for a piece of gum during the flight, according to his office. “When the plane landed, he immediately went to customs officials and called their attention to the issue,” the statement said.

News reports that the weapon was discovered during a bag check were false, his office stressed.

“It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,” the senator, who is also a port commissioner in Longview, said.

According to Mr. Wilson’s office, he is paying for the personal vacation trip at his own expense and plans to visit Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia in the coming weeks.

Mr. Wilson, who was first elected in 2020 and represents the 19th Legislative District in southwest Washington, also planned to meet with counterparts at the port of Shanghai, the statement said.

“Wilson said he hopes to resume his itinerary when the matter is resolved,” the statement added.

Airport Security Failures

State Senate Republican Leader John Braun told The Seattle Times on Monday that officials are only just learning of the incident involving Mr. Wilson but that they stand by his account that it was an “honest mistake.”

“I do not have any additional information to share at this point, but we are watching the situation closely. That said, I hope that this can be resolved in a timely manner,” Mr. Braun told the publication.

Meanwhile, Mr. Wilson told Oregon Public Broadcasting that he will remain in Hong Kong until his upcoming court hearing, and has been cooperating with law enforcement officials.

The Republican noted he is “quite happy and healthy.”

However, he stressed that officials at Portland International Airport should have spotted the gun in his carry-on bag.

“I should have never been out of security in America,” Mr. Wilson said. “We’re hopeful that I will successfully adjudicate this and look for a conclusion within a week, no problem,” he concluded.

A spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that it is “aware that a passenger on a flight departing from Portland International Airport (PDX) Saturday (10/21) passed through security and traveled with an unloaded firearm in his carry-on bag. The individual was arrested upon arrival in Hong Kong. TSA takes this situation very seriously and is currently investigating the circumstances.”