Philan-Tam-Duy Le, 35, from Julian, California, was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police on August 25 after officers found a large guillotine mounted on the bed of his pickup truck parked illegally near the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court buildings in Washington, D.C. [1, 2, 3]
Le was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon for possessing the guillotine, which officials discovered along the 100 block of East Capitol Street near the Capitol complex. [1, 2, 3]
He drove the truck across the country from California to Washington, D.C. before his arrest. [1, 2, 3] Investigators are examining Le’s background and his reasons for bringing the guillotine to the capital. [1, 2, 3]
Le’s brother said the guillotine was intended as a “symbol of disapproval.” He said Le was unhappy with both Democrats and Republicans and disliked President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom. [2]
The arrest happened amid heightened concerns over rising threats against lawmakers and government officials in Washington, D.C. In 2025, the U.S. Capitol Police reported nearly 15,000 investigations into threats against lawmakers and related parties, up from about 9,500 in 2024 and 8,000 in 2023. [1, 2]
The Secret Service reported a 40% increase in threat investigations in 2026 compared to 2025, with mental health-related interventions rising significantly. [1]
Recent weeks have seen discovery of other unusual weapons near the Capitol complex, including a homemade sword, brass knuckles, machetes, and knives. [3]
Similar incidents include a man arrested with a machete at the Capitol Visitor Center checkpoint in 2025 and a 2021 arrest of a California man near the Democratic National Committee headquarters with a bayonet and machete in a truck displaying white supremacist symbols. [3]
Authorities continue probing Le’s case as part of broader security efforts around the Capitol complex. No further charges have been announced.
