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A Missouri man pleaded guilty Monday crashed a rented truck in metal barriers around the White House in May 2023, admitting that he was “fueled by the ideology of Nazi Germany” and hoped to overthrow the US government.
Sai Varshit Kandula, 20, of Chesterfield, Missouri, also a citizen of India, pleaded guilty to one count of damaging federal property. He faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in August.
Kandula was initially charged with threatening to kill or injure the president of the United States, assault with a dangerous weapon and reckless operation of a vehicle, according to a statement from the US Park Police, whose jurisdiction includes the area where the metal barriers are located.
As part of a plea deal with US Department of Justice prosecutors, Kandula admitted to investigators that his intention was “to replace the democratically elected government with a dictatorship fueled by the ideology of Nazi Germany and put himself at the head of the United States.” . .
Kandula, who was carrying a Nazi flag at the time of his arrest, also admitted to investigators that he would “arrange the assassination of the President of the United States and others if necessary to achieve his goal.”
Kandula was diagnosed with schizophrenia after his arrest, according to court documents. He faces deportation after his release from prison.
A witness to the crash, Chris Zaboji, posted a video on social media showing the truck crashing into the barriers. After the initial crash, Zaboji said the truck hit the barricades a second time.
No one from the White House or Secret services was injured in the crash, according to Anthony Guglielmi, the agency’s communications chief.
Reuters contributed to this report
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