California man charged with misdemeanor weapon after bringing wooden guillotine to Capitol grounds
A 35-year-old California resident pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor weapon charge after a wooden guillotine was found in his truck near the U.S. Capitol; a judge denied prosecutors' request to keep him detained.
A California man was arraigned on Wednesday on a misdemeanor weapon charge after Capitol Police discovered a 10-foot wooden guillotine in the bed of his truck parked near the U.S. Capitol. The 35-year-old, identified as Philan-Tam-Duy Le, entered a not-guilty plea. Prosecutors asked that he remain in custody, but District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum declined, noting that Le had not threatened anyone and had cooperated with officers.
"He didn’t even threaten anyone. He didn’t flee. He didn’t do anything other than speak to police officers," Hildum said.
Capitol Police observed the antique execution device in the back of a black Toyota Tacoma that was illegally parked in a permit-only spot near the Library of Congress. An officer asked Le whether the guillotine was functional; Le replied that it was "the real deal," according to a court affidavit. He told officers he had no specific purpose for being on federal grounds and no grievances against members of Congress.
Le’s brother, Kelvin Le, told the Los Angeles Times that his sibling would not harm anyone and suggested the guillotine might have been intended as a symbolic protest against politics. The investigation into Le’s motives and background continues, and the seized guillotine and vehicle have been retained as evidence.