WASHINGTON (AP) — There are questions this morning about the arrest of a South Carolina pork-and-poultry executive who allegedly tried to enter a congressional office building in Washington with a handgun in his bag.

U.S. Capitol Police say 59-year-old Ronald William Prestage (PRESS’-tij) of Camden, South Carolina, was arrested as he tried to enter the Cannon House Office Building Wednesday morning with a loaded 9 mm Ruger. Prestage was charged with carrying a pistol without a license.

Prestage is an executive of Prestage Farms, based in Clinton, North Carolina, and a member of the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees.

He also is president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council, a lobbying group.

Telephone messages left Thursday with Prestage Farms and at numbers for Prestage’s family and were not immediately returned.

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