2014 White House intrusion
2014 White House intrusion | |
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Pocket knife | |
Perpetrator | Omar J. Gonzalez |
The 2014 White House intrusion occurred on September 19, 2014, when Omar J. Gonzalez, an Iraq War veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, jumped over the White House's fence and entered the building's front door, overpowered a security officer, was stopped by another who was off-duty, then later by multiple security officers, and arrested. He was found to have a small knife in his pocket, and stated that the "atmosphere was collapsing" and he needed to tell the president so that he could alert the public. President Barack Obama and his family were not home at the time of the incident. As a result of this incident and other security breaches at the White House, the then-director of the United States Secret Service, Julia Pierson, resigned from her position on October 1, 2014.
Gonzalez was indicted for entering a restricted building while armed with a knife. He was also charged with two violations of local laws: carrying a weapon outside a home or business, and ammunition possession. In March 2015, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to two felonies: "entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly weapon", and "assaulting a federal officer".[1] In June 2015 he was sentenced to 17 months in prison, to be followed by three years' probation.
Background
Omar J. Gonzalez was born in Puerto Rico. His father was a Korean War veteran. He enlisted in the US Army in July 1997 when he was 25, and discharged in 2003 after completing his six-year service period. Gonzalez re-enlisted in July 2005, and was deployed to the Iraq War from October 2006 until January 2008. Gonzalez received several medals for marksmanship and conduct during his service.[2] He married Samantha Bell in 2006; however, they separated in 2010[3] and were divorced in July 2014.[4] According to Bell, after returning from Iraq, Gonzalez carried a handgun on his hip at all times, and also kept several rifles and shotguns behind the doors in their house.[5]
Gonzalez retired from the army due to a disability in December 2012. He wore a back brace and complained of pain in his foot, though friends stated he never disclosed the nature of his injury.[2] A family member said he had been injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Iraq and had been prescribed both antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication, though he was suspected to have since ceased taking the medication. Gonzalez's former step-son said that Gonzalez was "a very good guy" who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[6] According to a neighbor, he used a cane and was taking "very strong medication".[2]
Since February 2013, he had been receiving monthly disability payments of $1,652, though he had not sought treatment at any
On July 19, 2014, police in Southwest
Incident
At approximately 7:20 pm on Friday, September 19, 2014, Gonzalez scaled the iron perimeter fence of the White House. Several agents pursued him,[10] as he ran directly towards the North Portico doors, which were unlocked.[11] President Barack Obama and his daughters had just left the White House and were heading to Camp David at the time of the incident. Michelle Obama was also not home, having travelled to the retreat earlier.[12][13] Agents stated they chose not to shoot at Gonzalez as he did not have a weapon in his hands, and was not wearing clothing that could conceal a significant amount of explosives; the possibility of accidentally hitting civilians beyond the fence was also cited.[8] A senior official stated: "A lot of people want to judge the Secret Service for not shooting, but [a] number of things have to be considered in this situation, including whether or not the principal is in the residence" adding, "given what's emerged about [Gonzalez's mental health] since the arrest, maybe we'll look back and say the Secret Service played a role in saving his life."[14]
The Secret Service initially reported that Gonzalez had been stopped at the entrance; however, it was later revealed that he made it farther inside. It was also revealed that an alarm box near the entrance, which was designed to alert guards inside of a trespasser, had been disabled at the request of the usher's office on the grounds that it was "disruptive";[15] an agent told The Washington Post that the boxes frequently malfunctioned, sounding the alarm when there was no intruder.[10]
Gonzalez then overpowered a female Secret Service agent
After he was arrested, Gonzalez gave permission for his vehicle, parked nearby, to be searched. Agents recovered 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets, and a machete from the car.[20] Gonzalez was ordered to be held without bond until a detention hearing on October 1.[3] Less than 24 hours later another man was arrested after driving to a White House gate and refusing to leave. There was no evidence to suggest the two incidents were related.[21]
Response
On September 22 Jeh Johnson, then United States Secretary of Homeland Security, released a statement urging the public "not to rush to judgement" over the incident, and not to "second-guess the judgement of security officers who only had seconds to act". White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that President Obama was "obviously concerned" about the incident but "continues to have complete confidence" in the Secret Service. Earnest said that the Secret Service had increased foot patrols, added additional surveillance, was providing additional training to officers to handle similar situations, and had "changed the procedures for ensuring that the entrance to the White House was secure."[22]
On September 24 the Secret Service said they were investigating how Gonzalez was able to penetrate the White House grounds to such an extent. Director
Ron Fournier from the National Journal said the incident was a reflection of how Veterans Affairs was failing soldiers suffering from PTSD. Fournier also commented on how media coverage of the incident was largely ignoring the fact that Gonzalez was a war veteran with mental health issues.[23] As a result of the Gonzalez incident, and other controversies relating to the security of the White House, including the 2011 White House shooting, Pierson resigned from her position on October 1, 2014.[24]
Charges and trial
Gonzalez was charged with one federal count of entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. In addition he was charged with violating two local laws: "carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business", and "unlawful possession of ammunition".[25] The three charges carry maximum prison terms of ten, five and one year in prison, respectively.[25] On October 1, 2014, Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to all charges. He did not speak during his court appearance, which only lasted 20 minutes. Judge Deborah A. Robinson ordered that Gonzalez remain in jail without bond, also ordering that Gonzalez undergo a mental competency screening on October 17.[19]
In March 2015, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to two felonies: "entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly weapon", and "assaulting a federal officer".
See also
- List of White House security breaches
- Assassination threats against Barack Obama
- List of United States presidential assassination attempts and plots
References
- ^ a b c d e Hsu, Spencer S. (June 16, 2015). "White House fence-jumper sentenced to 17 months in prison". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Montgomery, David; Fernandez, Manny (September 23, 2014). "Omar J. Gonzalez, Accused of White House Intrusion, Is Recalled as Good but Troubled Neighbor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "White House Fence-Jumper Omar Gonzalez Had 800 Rounds of Ammunition, Authorities Say". NBC. September 22, 2014. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c Gittens, Hasani (September 20, 2015). "Omar Gonzalez: Who Is the White House Fence Jumper?". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ a b Reeve, Richard (September 22, 2014). "Omar J. Gonzalez, accused White House fence-jumper, identified as Army veteran who served in Iraq". WJLA-TV. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ Chappell, Bill (September 21, 2014). "Man Caught At White House Is An Army Veteran". NPR. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Date, Jack; Lloyd, Whitney; De Vogue, Ariane (September 22, 2014). "White House Fence Jumper Had 800 Rounds of Ammo in Car, Prosecutors Say". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 1, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Prosecutor sheds light on accused White House intruder's past". CBS News. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Secret service agents interviewed White House intruder before breach". The Guardian. September 24, 2015. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ a b Leonnig, Carol D (September 29, 2014). "White House fence-jumper made it far deeper into building than previously known". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ a b Shear, Michael D.; Steve Kenny (September 20, 2014). "Breach Prompts Review of White House Security". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ "Omar J. Gonzalez, alleged White house fence-jumper, reportedly made it to East Room". CBC.ca. September 24, 2015. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ a b Mason, Jeff (September 20, 2015). "U.S. Secret Service investigates after man jumps White House fence, reaches doors". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ Farwell, Matt (September 2014). "How the Secret Service Trains for Confrontations with the Mentally Ill". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ Phillip, Ross (September 29, 2014). "White House Intruder Omar J. Gonzalez Got Closer To Obama Family Living Quarters Than Secret Service First Admitted". International Business Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ "Fence-jumper made it farther in White House than Secret Service let on". CBS News. September 29, 2014. Archived from the original on October 5, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ Leonnig, Carol D (September 30, 2014). "White House intruder was tackled by off-duty Secret Service agent". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ Saenz, Arlette (September 20, 2014). "White House Intruder Had Knife, Claims to Be Iraq Vet". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ a b Hsu, Spencer S. (October 1, 2014). "Alleged White House fence-jumper pleads not guilty". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ "Omar J. Gonzalez indicted on White House intruding charges". Fox News. September 30, 2014. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ^ a b "White House intruder identified as Iraq War Army veteran Omar J. Gonzalez". The Republican. September 21, 2014. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ Levine, Mike; Parkinson, John; Thomas, Pierre (September 22, 2014). "Obama 'Obviously Concerned' Over Security Breach". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ Fournier, Ron (September 22, 2014). "How Soon We Forget the Veteran Who Attacked the White House". National Journal. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ Makarechi, Kia (October 2, 2015). "Resigned Secret Service Director Wanted Agency to Be More Like Disney World". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on January 26, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
- ^ a b Hsu, Spencer S. (September 30, 2014). "Omar J. Gonzalez, man who allegedly breached White House, indicted". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.