A Southern California man was arrested on Tuesday near the U.S. Supreme Court building after authorities found a guillotine in the back of his pickup truck. U.S. Capitol Police reported that Philan-Tam-Duy Le, a 35-year-old resident of Julian in San Diego County, was taken into custody on suspicion of carrying a dangerous weapon. His family stated that he is commonly known as Philan Tam Le.
Kelvin Le, Philan's brother, confirmed that the black truck shown in police photographs belonged to him. The reasons behind Philan's actions remain unclear, as he had driven from California to Washington, D.C.
Kelvin Le expressed surprise at his brother's arrest, suggesting that the guillotine was likely intended as a symbol of disapproval rather than a weapon. He stated, "I don’t think he’d hurt anyone." Philan Tam Le, who enjoyed traveling and worked as a tattoo artist, had expressed dissatisfaction with the political landscape, criticizing both major political parties and expressing discontent with California Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Trump.
Investigators are currently examining Philan's background to understand his motivations for traveling to Washington, D.C. The pickup truck was found illegally parked on East Capitol Street, close to the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress.