The man accused of crashing a truck into barriers near the White House in an attempt to overthrow the government planned to give a speech announcing the end of American democracy, prosecutors said.
Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, was being held without bond pending a hearing Tuesday. He was arrested after the May 22 crash and charged with depredation of United States property.
However, investigators and prosecutors have suggested that the larger issue was his alleged intent to seize power and harm the president if necessary.
A memo federal prosecutors filed Friday in support of keeping Kandula behind bars unconditionally ahead of a possible trial said he kept a diary that included a coup speech he planned to make if he took over the government after the crash.
The memo cites a passage from the diary, which the defendant described as a «green book,» describing a post-democratic America. He addresses «my fellow Americans.» by prescribing a historical change.
«As I am familiar with the [unknown] that this country is a democratic nation, and this will no longer be the case,» the passage reads, according to the memo. “There will be consequences if civil unrest occurs. To be clear Any opposition will face the death penalty to be clear: (kill the president) As you have seen, we will declare ourselves in the military until the situation has been resolved. [unknown]. We will rebuild this world.»
The defendant, who allegedly grabbed a Nazi flag from the cargo area of the rented U-Haul just before he was taken into custody, ended the passage with the words «Sieg hail,» echoing but misspelling the Nazi motto meaning «hail victory.»
No one was injured in the crash at 9:35 pm The Ford commercial truck struck bollards at the Lafayette Square entrance north of the White House grounds, prosecutors said. The motorist backed up and struck them again, and the truck appeared to be disabled at that point, they said.
Kandula told Secret Service agents that he planned to take power and would kill President Joe Biden if necessary. He praised Adolf Hitler as a «strong leader,» according to the memo.
Included in the memo were photos of the bollards the vehicle hit. They guard a path that leads directly to the White House, which can be seen in the distance.
Prosecutors argue that Kandula is a danger to the community and a flight risk because he has visited India multiple times. They said he is a lawful permanent resident of the United States subject to deportation if he is convicted.
The government argued that the attack on federal land was planned, including the trip from the St. Louis area to Washington and the rental of the truck.
Kandula’s defense has yet to file a response. It was not clear if he has legal counsel. The federal public defender’s office in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kandula claimed success after the accident, even while incarcerated, according to the memo. He told Secret Service agents that he believed his writing would reach a wider audience, he said.
«Either way,» prosecutors quoted him as saying, «whether I entered the White House or not, my message was received.»
Kandula was scheduled to appear in federal court in Washington at 3 pm Tuesday for a hearing on whether he should remain behind bars pending possible trial.