A man in his 30s has been indicted for firing a laser beam at the presidential helicopter Marine One carrying U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to local media including the New York Times on the 22nd (local time), Jacob Samuel Winkler, 33, was caught by a Secret Service agent on the 20th after shining a red laser pointer at Marine One as it was taking off near the White House. Arrested at the scene, he reportedly knelt and repeated that he "had to apologize to President Trump."
Winkler was indicted on a charge of aiming a laser at an aircraft and, if convicted, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Separately, he could face fines of up to $32,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Prosecutors said his actions momentarily obstructed the pilot's view, increasing the risk of collision with other aircraft during low-altitude flight. Jeannine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., said it was "a crime that put Marine One and its occupants in danger, and we will seek the maximum penalty allowed by law."
In questioning, Winkler admitted firing the laser at Marine One but claimed he did not know it was illegal. The indictment did not say whether the laser was detected inside the helicopter at the time. President Trump traveled to Virginia in the helicopter to deliver a speech.