A California man was arrested Tuesday after U.S. Capitol Police discovered a fully assembled guillotine in the bed of his pickup truck parked near the Supreme Court Building.
Philan-Tam-Duy Le, 35, of Julian, California, had driven approximately 2,300 miles from the Golden State to Washington, D.C., before officers spotted his vehicle illegally parked along the 100 block of East Capitol Street shortly after 3 p.m., according to U.S. Capitol Police. The guillotine was sitting upright in the truck bed, fully assembled and clearly visible.
Officers seized the device and arrested Le on a charge of carrying a dangerous weapon. He was also cited for illegally parking next to the Supreme Court grounds. The device, an execution instrument designed to kill by beheading, features a heavy blade mounted on a tall wooden frame and was invented in late-18th-century France.
Investigators are now digging into Le’s background and his motives for transporting the guillotine across the country. Owning a guillotine on private property is generally not a crime, but bringing a dangerous weapon into protected government areas violates strict federal and local security rules governing objects brought near government buildings. The Capitol complex and Supreme Court grounds are among the most heavily secured locations in the nation.
Le remains under investigation as U.S. Capitol Police work to determine why the Julian, California, resident made the cross-country trek to Washington and arrived near the nation’s most heavily guarded government buildings with an execution device. Authorities have not disclosed whether Le made any statements to officers at the scene or whether he has offered any explanation for his actions.
The guillotine later became an infamous symbol of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, when it was used to execute thousands, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. In modern times, the device has occasionally appeared at political protests as a provocative symbol, though its presence near active government buildings is extraordinarily rare.
Capitol Police have not indicated whether Le has any known ties to extremist groups or prior involvement in protests at the Capitol. The department did not immediately release additional information about Le’s detention status or whether he has retained legal representation.
Le’s arrest comes as security remains elevated around the Capitol complex following the January 6, 2021, attack on the building. Federal and local law enforcement agencies continue to monitor threats against government officials and institutions, with restricted zones and enhanced screening protocols in place around the Capitol, Supreme Court, and surrounding areas.