Rep Michelle Bachmann with aide, Javier Sanchez.
Javier Sanchez, an aide for Rep. Michele Bachmann, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly stealing from a Congressional office building, reports NBC 4 Washington.
US Cap Police charged @MicheleBachmann staffer with thefts from offices in Rayburn Building. Javier Sanchez denies charges. @NBCWashington
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) July 15, 2013
Here’s what you need to know…
1. Javier Sanchez Was Arrested on Theft Charges
Javier Sanchez, a former aide to Rep. Michele Bachmann, has been charged with theft. Was he the one who stole her brain?
— $pencer (@13spencer) July 16, 2013
Sanchez was arrested on July 11 and charged with second-degree theft. The misdemeanor, when less than $1,000 is stolen, is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
2. He Stole From the Rayburn House Office Building
According to the United States Capitol Police, there has been an ongoing investigation into multiple thefts at the Rayburn House Office Building since earlier this year.
“Earlier this year the United States Capitol Police (USCP) was apprised of thefts that occurred in the Rayburn House Office Building,” Shennell Antrobus, USPC public information officer, wrote in a statement Monday night. “The USCP conducted an investigation and were able to identify a subject. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 37 year old Javier Sanchez of Virginia.”
3. Sanchez Was Caught by a Sting Operation by Capitol Police
Michele Bachmann staffer Javier Sanchez arrested in Capitol theft sting http://t.co/yEv7HDBgjB
— Paul Henry (@mosrite69) July 16, 2013
Capitol Police placed a hidden camera in a room with two envelopes, one with $80 marked “Petty Cash” on one desk, and another marked “Birthday Money” with $120 on another desk. The money was reported missing on June 25 and when authorities reviewed the surveillance footage, it showed a man taking an envelop from the desk, counting the money and taking the cash and envelop with him. The man’s boss identified him as Sanchez.
4. He Was a Senior Legislative Assistant
Sanchez worked as a senior legislative assistant with Michelle Bachmann since January. (Getty Images)
Sanchez worked as a senior legislative assistant for Bachmann. Needless to say, he is now out of a job. News4 learned on Monday that he was fired.
5. He’s Denying the Charges
What a creep: Bachmann staffer arrested http://t.co/sGLfi7md4o
— Joel Kassiday (@Capitolvet) July 16, 2013
According to his lawyer, Sanchez is denying the charges.
“I may have taken a quarter once and a while, but I would pay it back,” Sanchez said in an affidavit.