A 20-year-old Indian-origin man, who is a permanent resident of the US, pleaded guilty to attacking the White House last year.
According to a US attorney, Sai Varshith Kandula from St. Louis, Missouri, crashed a rented truck into the White House perimeter on May 22, 2023, with the intent to replace the democratically elected government with a dictatorship fueled by the ideology of Nazi Germany.
Kandula admitted to investigators that he would have arranged for the killing of the US president and others if necessary to achieve his objective.
US Attorney Matthew Graves said Kandula's actions were calculated to intimidate or coerce the government into changing its conduct. The Department of Justice stated that Kandula intended to replace the democratically elected government with a dictatorship fueled by the ideology of Nazi Germany and for himself to be put in charge of the US.
US District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich has scheduled Kandula's sentencing for August 23. According to court documents, Kandula used a one-way airline ticket on a commercial flight from St. Louis to Washington, DC, on May 22, 2023.
Kandula arrived at Dulles International Airport at about 5.20 pm and rented a truck at 6.30 pm.
He stopped for food and gas and then drove to Washington, D.C., where, at 9:35 p.m., he crashed into the barriers protecting the White House and President’s Park at the intersection of H Street, Northwest, and 16th Street, Northwest.
Kandula drove onto the sidewalk, sending pedestrians running from the scene.
After crashing into the barriers, the truck reversed and then drove forward, hitting the metal barriers once again. The second collision damaged the truck, causing smoke to emanate from the engine compartment and fluids to leak.
Kandula stepped out of the vehicle and went to the back of the truck. He then pulled out a flag and a three-by-five foot red-and-white banner with a Nazi Swastika in the centre, and waved it.
US Park Police and US Secret Service officers who were present at the site apprehended Kandula and took him into custody.
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