White House Break-In: Security Hole?

• September 23, 2014 14:11

(Baonghean.vn) - The intruder who broke into the White House on Friday, September 19, had 800 rounds of ammunition in his car, federal prosecutor David Mudd said on Monday, September 22.

"Mr. Omar Gonzalez's motives and possession of weapons are a danger to the President," Mr. Mudd said in court. He also said that in the car parked near the White House of this "homeless, no income" defendant, people also found two axe blades and a machete. Gonzalez was charged in federal court with unlawful entry with a dangerous weapon and the expected sentence is 10 years in prison. Gonzalez is currently in custody awaiting his next court hearing on October 1. Meanwhile, an investigation into White House security is underway.

Security outside the White House.

President Barack Obama is said to be "very concerned" about the incident. "His family lives in the White House, so obviously this is concerning to him," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Monday. However, Obama praised the Secret Service - the government agency responsible for protecting the president - for "doing its job" and expressed "gratitude for the sacrifices the agency has made for him and his family."

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Jeh Johnson, head of Homeland Security, defended the Secret Service, which he oversees: "I urge everyone to refrain from jumping to conclusions before all is known and to refrain from making preconceived notions about the capabilities of security personnel, who have only seconds to act. Remember, the U.S. Secret Service is among the best, if not the best, in the world."

On Saturday, September 20, another man attempted to approach the White House, first on foot and then by car, but was arrested. The intrusions came as the Secret Service was embroiled in an internal scandal.

Ganoderma

(According to Le monde on September 23)