Colorado state Rep. Don Wilson left a gun in a state Capitol bathroom earlier this week, House leadership said Thursday.
It was still unclear how long the firearm, a pistol, was left in the bathroom on Tuesday night, who discovered it or who has possession of it now. Wilson, a Monument Republican, apologized on the social media platform X after a closed-door meeting with House leadership Thursday morning.
Colorado House Rep. Don Wilson works at the State Capitol on Feb. 8, 2023, in Denver. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
In a statement, Wilson said an “incident occurred where my firearm was left briefly unattended at the Capitol building after the building was closed to the public” Tuesday.
That night, Wilson was serving on the House Judiciary Committee, which worked late after the impeachment proceedings against Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
Wilson, a freshman lawmaker who’s running for an El Paso County commission seat, was not immediately available for comment Thursday. A spokesman for the House Republicans referred comment to the Colorado State Patrol, which provides security to the Capitol building.
A message to a patrol spokesman was not immediately returned.
In his statement, Wilson thanked the state patrol and Capitol staff “for their hard work and professionalism in quickly responding.”
In a separate statement, Democratic House leadership criticized Wilson’s handling of the weapon. House Speaker Julie McCluskie said the incident had created “a dangerous situation” that “should not have happened and cannot happen again.”
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Firearms are not generally allowed in the Capitol, though that rule does not apply to state lawmakers. It’s also not the first incident involving lawmakers and firearms in the Capitol: In 2022, Rep. Richard Holtorf, an Akron Republican, dropped a gun while rushing to a vote.
Last year, Rep. Ron Weinberg, a Loveland Republican, had two guns stolen from his car when it was parked outside of the Capitol.
Democratic Majority Leader Monica Duran, in a statement, called it “frustrating and disappointing to continually see colleagues make mistakes with their guns.”
She said Wilson has committed to not carrying a firearm in the Capitol.
Staff writer Nick Coltrain contributed to this story.
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