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Indian in Missouri pleads guilty to attempted White House attack
Sai Varshith Kandula, 20, faces sentencing on Aug.23, after a foiled 2023 White House attack that shocked his former classmates at Marquette High School.
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Sai Varshith Kandula crashed into the barriers protecting White House and President’s Park at 9.35 pm on May.22, 2023. / Screengrab X/@EddieMoBlake
Indian-origin 20-year-old Missouri resident Sai Varshith Kandula has pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful injury or depredation of US property after he attempted to drive a U-Haul truck into the fence surrounding the White House building on May.22, 2023.
Kandula, who was born in Chandanagar in India, will face sentencing on Aug.23.
According to a statement from the US Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, Kandula looked to gain control of the White House to “seize political power” and incorporate a government that would follow the Nazi Germany ideology. He had been planning the trespass for weeks prior.
"Kandula flew on a commercial flight from St. Louis, Missouri, to Washington DC in the afternoon of May.22, 2023, connecting through another airport on a one-way airline ticket,” the statement mentioned quoting court documents.
“Kandula arrived at Dulles International Airport about 5.20 pm, and rented a truck at 6.30 pm. He stopped for food and gas, and then drove to Washington, DC, where he crashed into the barriers protecting White House and President’s Park at 9.35 pm at the intersection of H Street, Northwest and 16th Street, Northwest.”
Kandula drove onto the sidewalk, sending pedestrians running from the scene.
“After striking the barriers, the truck backed up in reverse, then lurched forward, striking the metal barriers a second time. The second impact disabled the truck which began smoking from the engine compartment and leaking fluids," the statement added.
“Kandula next exited the vehicle and went to the back of the truck. From a backpack he removed a flag, a three-by-five foot red-and-white banner with a Nazi Swastika in the center, and brandished it. US Park Police and the US Secret Service officers arrested Kandula at the scene and took him into custody," the court filing concluded.
Interestingly, media reports at the time of the 2023 incident quoted Kandula's classmates at Marquette High School describing him as quiet and someone who didn't get into trouble.
Kandula’s actions caused $4,322 in damage to the National Park Service and over $50,000 in damage to U-Haul International.
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