Man Arrested Near U.S. Capitol with Guillotine in Truck

The U.S. Capitol Police arrested a man carrying a guillotine in his pickup truck on Tuesday. The individual, identified as Philan-Tam-Duy Le from Julian, California, faced charges for “carrying a dangerous weapon.” This incident took place along the 100 block of East Capitol Street.

According to the Capitol Police, Le, aged 35, drove from California to Washington. Investigators are currently examining his background to understand his motives for visiting the capital. Law enforcement officers reported that the truck was seen illegally parked near the Capitol and the Supreme Court. The seized guillotine was visible in the truck bed.

At the time of the arrest, Congress was in recess, with lawmakers in their respective home districts. The arrest occurred outside of active political sessions, implying no immediate political context.

An Instagram account allegedly linked to Le featured a Story showing a video of a man beside the guillotine outside the FBI headquarters in Washington. In the video, the man mentions being “outside the FBI building, just eating some cheese pizza.” The post referred to “Guillotine adventures” and indicated plans to visit “Capital hill next.” Despite the proximity to federal buildings, the arrest does not necessarily point to a political motive, as Capitol Police routinely conduct arrests beyond the Capitol grounds.