A Missouri man, Sai Varshith Kandula, 20, pleaded guilty on Monday to damaging government property after crashing a rental truck into White House barriers and displaying a Nazi flag before his arrest last year. The incident occurred on May 22, 2023, when Kandula drove a U-Haul truck onto a sidewalk near White House grounds, causing pedestrians to flee in fear. He then rammed the truck into metal bollard barriers, narrowly missing two individuals standing nearby.
Despite the alarming nature of the incident, no one was injured during the crash. Kandula now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the felony charge of depredation of government property. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a prison term not exceeding eight years, but the final decision lies with U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, who is set to sentence Kandula on Aug. 23.
During his arrest, Kandula retrieved a Nazi flag from his backpack and expressed his desire to “get to the White House, seize power, and be put in charge of the nation.” He also made disturbing statements to Secret Service agents about his willingness to “kill the President” and harm anyone who stood in his way. Kandula, who hails from Chesterfield, Missouri, claimed to admire Adolf Hitler and the Nazis’ “great history.”
Defense attorney Scott Rosenblum revealed that Kandula is being treated for schizophrenia and plans to present a medical specialist at his sentencing. The shocking incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by individuals with extremist ideologies.