California Man Arrested With Guillotine Near U.S. Capitol

U.S. Capitol Police arrested a California man on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after officers discovered a guillotine in the bed of his pickup truck parked near the U.S. Capitol complex in Washington, D.C. The suspect, identified as PhilanTamDuy Le, 35, of Julian, California, was taken into custody shortly after 3 p.m. on suspicion of carrying a dangerous weapon.

According to officials, the arrest occurred in the 100 block of East Capitol Street, near the Supreme Court building, which is currently in its summer recess. Officers noticed the vehicle because it was illegally parked. Upon inspection, they found the large execution device standing upright in the truck bed. Capitol Police seized the guillotine and arrested Le.

Investigators are now examining the suspect's background to determine his motivation for driving across the country from California to the nation's capital with the device. "USCP investigators are going through the suspect's background to learn more about why he came to Washington, D.C.," officials stated. The guillotine, an instrument for capital punishment by beheading, consists of a heavy blade mounted on a tall wooden frame and is historically associated with...