Man Arrested Near U.S. Capitol with Functional Guillotine: Incident Raises Concerns
A man was arrested near the U.S. Capitol for driving with a guillotine, which he claimed was fully functional. The U.S. Capitol Police officers noticed the guillotine on a wooden platform in the back of a black Toyota Tacoma parked illegally near the Capitol building. The man, identified as Philan-Tam-Duy Le, admitted to the officers that the guillotine was real and had a metal blade. He was arrested for carrying a dangerous weapon and stated that he did not have any specific reason for being near the Capitol or any issues with members of Congress.
Le, who drove from California to Washington, D.C., had a concealed carry permit for a handgun and claimed to own a Springfield XDM handgun. However, a search of his truck did not reveal any weapons. Despite federal prosecutors requesting that he be kept in custody, a magistrate judge ordered his release before his next hearing, stating that he had not threatened anyone. The man's truck was towed to a processing facility in southeast D.C.
In conclusion, the man arrested for driving with a guillotine near the U.S. Capitol claimed the weapon was real and fully functional. He was released ahead of his next hearing despite being arrested for carrying a dangerous weapon. The incident raised concerns but did not result in any immediate threats or violence.