California man Philan-Tam-Duy Le was arrested for carrying a large guillotine in his pickup truck near the U.S. Capitol.
Philan-Tam-Duy Le was arrested on a misdemeanor weapon charge after U.S. Capitol police discovered a 10-foot-tall wooden guillotine in the back of his pickup truck. The 35-year-old man from Julian, California, was found sitting on the side of the antiquated decapitation device while his vehicle was parked illegally in a permit-only spot near the Supreme Court building. Authorities seized the guillotine and charged Le with attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. While prosecutors argued that Le intended to use the device unlawfully against another person, Judge Robert Hildum declined to keep him in jail, noting that Le did not threaten anyone or flee from the officers. Le told police he had no specific reason for being near the federal grounds and no issues with members of Congress. His brother, Kelvin Le, suggested the guillotine may have served as a symbol of disapproval regarding the state of politics. Police are currently investigating Le's background and his reasons for traveling to Washington, D.C.
Sources
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Man Accused of Bringing Guillotine to D.C. Is Arrested
The New York Times
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Man seen with a guillotine in his truck at the U.S. Capitol pleads not guilty
WUSA9
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Judge releases man accused of driving guillotine to Supreme Court
The Washington Post
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California man who brought guillotine to US Capitol grounds pleads not guilty
The Guardian
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USCP Arrests Driver with Guillotine in Truckbed
uscp.gov