U.S. Capitol Police on Tuesday arrested Philan-Tam-Duy Le, 35, of Julian, California, after officers found a guillotine in the bed of his pickup truck parked near the U.S. Supreme Court building.
Police confirmed Le was taken into custody on suspicion of carrying a dangerous weapon and seized the guillotine as evidence. The arrest occurred along the 100 block of East Capitol Street, an area that includes the Supreme Court, Capitol building, and Library of Congress.
Immediate Actions and Official Statements
Capitol Police reported that Le drove from California to Washington, D.C., though his motivations remain undisclosed. Investigators are reviewing his background to determine the purpose of his trip, according to a statement released by the department.
The pickup truck was parked illegally at the time of the arrest, authorities noted. A Capitol Police spokesperson did not provide additional details about the circumstances leading to the discovery of the guillotine.
Social Media Context and Public Postings
An Instagram account linked to Le included a video posted Tuesday showing a man with the guillotine outside FBI headquarters in Washington. The caption read: “Guillotine adventures”, with the text: “Outside the FBI building, just eating some cheese pizza. Capital hill next.”
The account’s activity and the video’s timing coincide with reports of Le’s arrest, though authorities have not confirmed a direct connection between the social media posts and the arrest.
Background and Legal Considerations
Guillotines are classified as dangerous weapons under D.C. law, and possession without lawful purpose can result in criminal charges. Capitol Police frequently make arrests beyond the Capitol grounds, and such incidents are not automatically assumed to be politically motivated.
Congress was in recess at the time of the arrest, meaning lawmakers were not present in Washington. The Supreme Court building is located within the same block where Le’s vehicle was stopped, though no direct link between the guillotine and the court has been established.