Prosecutor says claimed White House intruder was free on bail in weapons case, had 800 rounds in car
Image from Shutterstock.
A man accused of scaling a fence and entering the executive mansion at the White House with a knife Friday is a decorated U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq.
But Omar Gonzalez, 42, was also clearly troubled, the Los Angeles Times (sub. req.) reports. He told a Secret Service agent afterward that “he was concerned that the atmosphere was collapsing and needed to get the information to the president of the United States so that he could get the word out to the people,” a court filing says.
Gonzalez also faces a previous weapons case in Virginia, in which he had been freed on bond, and had 800 rounds of ammunition as well as two hatchets and a machete in his car, federal prosecutors state.
At a Monday hearing, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., apparently agreed with the government’s arguments that Gonzalez poses a danger to the president and is a flight risk. He ordered the defendant held without bond, according to Bloomberg and NBC News.
A lawyer for Gonzalez told the judge his client didn’t need a mental health evaluation, ABC News reports.
Although the first family wasn’t home at the time of the security breach, the incident has sparked concern that Gonzalez was able to get as far as he did. White House security is now under review.
Related articles:
Fox News: “Alleged White House intruder is decorated Iraq combat vet”
Slate: ”Knife-Carrying White House Jumper is Vet Who Feared “Atmosphere Was Collapsing””
