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A protester landed a one-man gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn in Washington D.C. to deliver letters to Congress urging real campaign finance reform:
A 61-year-old Florida mailman was arrested Wednesday after he landed a gyrocopter on the US Capitol west lawn. The gyrocopter was carrying the pilot and 535 stamped letters for members of Congress urging "real reform" to campaign finance laws.
Doug Hughes told the Tampa Bay Times ahead of the afternoon stunt that he notified authorities "well over an hour in advance of getting to the no-fly zone, so they know who I am and what I'm doing."
Bloomberg has this analysis of the aftermath, and Tampa Bay Times has video of the incident from multiple angles. Hughes live streamed his flight on a blog entitled The Democracy Club. Ben Montgomery, a reporter from the Tampa Bay Times, knew about the planned flight for months and traveled to D.C. to witness it, but only informed the Capitol Police and Secret Service after Hughes was in the air. Hughes contacted Montgomery after Secret Service questioned him in 2014. The FAA is investigating the incident.
How long before copycats start doing the same at the personal addresses of Congressmen, Supreme Court Justices, and others?
Update: Doug Hughes has been charged with knowingly operating an unregistered aircraft (a felony punishable by up to three years in prison) and violating national defense airspace (punishable by up to one year in prison).
Hughes was released after the hearing, on condition that he observe home detention until his next court date in the capital city, on 8 May.
He was ordered to surrender his passport and banned from flying any aircraft, and must report to the authorities once a week. He was also charged with operating an unregistered aircraft.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Friday April 17 2015, @02:34AM
Meh, he gets acquitted at any jury trial.
I don't think the flying an unregistered aircraft charge sticks. According to this page [usua.org] there are no requirements to register an ultralight aircraft . Violating a controlled airspace (at the altitude he flew) may be illegal, but its not dangerous, because no regulated aircraft fly below 1200 feet agl.
So it was a protest, no more unsafe, and a lot less unruly than the occupy movement, which did untold property damage and nobody went to jail.
I bet he does community service, and keeps his quasi-government job. Nobody wants him to become a campaign issue.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday April 17 2015, @02:37AM
Honestly I think they are already going light on him. 2 charges and not 20? They can file more though.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 4, Insightful) by anubi on Friday April 17 2015, @03:39AM
And I sure hope ballsy journalists will keep track of the names of those pressing charges....
Its high time people see the real faces of the people they vote into public offices.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 4, Interesting) by urza9814 on Friday April 17 2015, @01:42PM
You clearly have no clue what you're talking about. I have friends who were sent to Rikers for merely standing in a public park during Occupy.