Florida landed a gyrocopter on the lawn of the u. S. Capitol where he was promptly arrested. He was trying to make a political statement, but the unintended message he delivered is just how easy it still is to breech the most secure air space in america. Heres jeff pegues. Reporter with the white house in the foreground at 1 20 this afternoon a cbs news camera captured the gyrocopter flying over the National Mall behind the Washington Monument and toward the u. S. Capital. This is not good people. Approximately two minutes later, tourists captured the chopper as it came in for a landing on the west lawn. At the control 61yearold doug hues, a postal worker who wanted to stage a stunt andnt deliver letters to Congress Demanding Campaign Finance reform. Im going to land on the capital mall in front of the capitol building. Im going to have 535 letters strapped to the gear. His quest was chronicled by the Tampa Bay Times for several months but only covered it today. I carefully planned it
This was a protest flight. That friend michael shanahan, is joining me on the phone right now. Also with me Cnns Brian Stelter here in new york. Also with me former secret Service Agent on the phone. But michael, to you first. Can you please tell me who your friend is and why the heck he did this . His name is doug. The purpose of it was to call attention to the United States concerning our Campaign Finance laws or the lack thereof. And he wanted to deliver, at least his original plan i havent actually talked over this for a long time with him, but his original plan was to deliver letters to every member of congress complaining about the Campaign Finance and the fact it needs to be changed. Okay. Couple ways i need to follow up with you. One, if he wanted to deliver letters, what about the good oldfashioned mail system as opposed to violating restricted air space, landing on capitol hill in a gyrocopter . The main purpose there was not so much to Alert Congress to something they alread
Lands a few feet from the capital. Security questions swirling. A ceo of a Million Dollar company does the unthinkable. Not ensemble does he take a 90 pay cut, he gave the money to his employees. Why did he do it . Lets talk in the cnn newsroom newsroom. And hello there, everyone. Im debra feyerick in for Carol Costello. Thanks for joining me. Lets begin with the shocking taser picksup. A bombshell report from the tulsa world, supervisors of robert bates, the 73yearold volunteer deputy and Insurance Company owner who said he accidentally fired his gun instead of his taser, those were allegedly falsified training records. The report claims at least three of those supervisors were reassigned after they refused. Its unclear who exactly issued the order. If true he could receive credit for field and weapons training he never completed. The Sheriffs Office denies the claim but the tulsa world newspaper standing by that report. Back when he was trying to get on as a deputy. He had already be
Im erin burnett. Outfront, we begin with breaking news. Chaos at the capitol. A gyro copter landing outside the United States capitol. The capitol was locked down police racing through the halls in fear for the lives of hundreds of lawmakers. It was a oneman piloted copter and it landed near the spot where the Christmas Tree every year stands. The pilot had been reportedly flying for about 45 miles an hour. He was quickly arrested. But heres the thing. He had flown through restricted air space for hours undetected and unchallenged. And the big question tonight is how could this happen . How could a man fly into the teeth of the most heavily protected air space in the world and get away with it . The pilot, doug hughes is a florida postal worker. His mission he said was a peaceful protest, something he reportedly had been planning for years. I dont believe that the authorities are going to shoot down a 60yearold mailman in a flying bicycle. Well despite jokes from lawmakers they were un
Plot by tsa employees to grope passengers. Two officers accused of singling out attractive flyers for some very uncomfortable screening. And life without parole. The jury did not have the smoking gun, they were not sure of a clear motive. But a short time ago, members of the jury spoke out saying they did the right thing finding Aaron Hernandez guilty of firstdegree murder. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the lead. Im jake tapper. We begin with breaking news on the national lead. Chaos at the u. S. Capitol after a startling stunt puts lawmakers on lockdown shutting down nearby streets, sending security teams scrambling. It all started when a pilot landed his small aircraft on the west front lawn of the Capitol Building just hours ago. We want to show you this video of the landing from the associated press. You can see tourists looking on in disbelief. Were now learning the pilot likely did this on purpose. He was trying to send a message to the congress. The pilot has been identif