A White House staffer has been arrested and placed on unpaid leave after allegedly shooting at her police officer lover in a domestic altercation.
Barvetta Singletary, special assistant to President Barack Obama and House of Representatives legislative affairs liaison, was arrested on Friday after the reported incident.
The 37-year-old has been placed on unpaid leave and had her access to the White House revoked, CNN reported on Monday.
Ms Singletary, who was released from Prince George’s County jail in Maryland after posting a $75,000 bond, was reportedly having a sexual relationship with the unidentified capitol police officer when the alleged altercation occurred.
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Charging documents, that list the offence as a domestic violence case, claim that Ms Singletary texted the officer asking “for sexual intercourse” at her home. Afterwards she reportedly inquired about another woman the officer was seeing, and tried to access his mobile phone.
Allegedly grabbing the man’s weapon, the White House aide reportedly pointed it at him, telling the man: “You taught me how to use this, don’t think I won’t use it”.
Ms Singletary fired a round at the man before she wiped the weapon down with a towel.
The officer fled the scene and called the police, who arrived at the home in Upper Marlboro, Maryland at around 5.30am. Ms Singletary was charged with first and second degree assault and reckless endangerment.
"We are aware of the matter and have temporarily placed the employee in question on unpaid leave and revoked her access to the complex until we have more information. We will take additional actions as needed," a White House spokesperson told CNN on Monday in a statement.
Previously deputy chief of staff to Assistant Minority Leader James Clynburn, Ms Singletary moved to the White House last year, on a salary of $125,000.
