Crime & Public Safety
US Capitol Police arrest man with guillotine in truck
US Capitol Police said they arrested a 35-year-old California man after finding a full-scale guillotine in the bed of his pickup truck near the US Supreme Court building and the US Capitol.
Philan-Tam-Duy Le, from Julian, California, was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, police said. His pickup truck was illegally parked on a nearby street at the time of the arrest.
Police said they seized the guillotine. It was not clear whether it was operational.
Investigators are examining Le's background to learn why he came to Washington, police said. Police said he had driven to the capital from California.
Kelvin Le, Le's older brother, told the Los Angeles Times that the guillotine was probably intended as a "symbol of disapproval." He said his brother was not a fan of either major US political party and disliked both President Donald Trump, a Republican, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.
"I don't think he'd hurt anyone," Kelvin Le told the newspaper.
Update
It was not clear whether the guillotine was operational.
Police said Philan-Tam-Duy Le drove to Washington from California.
Kelvin Le told the Los Angeles Times the guillotine was probably intended as a symbol of disapproval.
Kelvin Le said his brother disliked both President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom and did not think he would hurt anyone.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 19:27:38 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It was not clear whether the guillotine was operational.
Police had not stated a motive for Le's trip to Washington.
Source
AFP news report published on .