White House intruder pleads guilty to assault, illegal entry
Omar Gonzalez, an Iraq war veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, pled guilty on Friday to illegally entering and running through the White House while armed with a knife. Gonzalez faces up to 18 years in prison for both charges, plus thousands in fines. Prosecution and defense attorneys had previously agreed sentencing guidelines called for 12 to 18 months in prison and possible fines.
Gonzalez was charged with climbing over the White House fence on Sept. 19 and racing across the north lawn, making it to the East Room before he was tackled by Secret Service. He told one agent that he needed to inform President Obama about the atmosphere's impending collapse.
This comes after a string of embarrassments for the Secret Service. The agency's director stepped down in October, and most recently, two agents allegedly drove drunk through an area at the White House during the investigation of a suspicious package.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
