WASHINGTON — The man accused of crashing a U-Haul truck into barriers near the White House earlier this week is not a US citizen. the authorities said Wednesday.
Sai Varshith Kandula, a 19-year-old from suburban St. Louis, wore a jail-issued orange jumpsuit in his brief court appearance when prosecutors requested pretrial detention.
A government prosecutor told the court that Kandula is neither a citizen nor a legal permanent resident. But later Wednesday, a Justice Department official clarified the public hearing comments, saying Kandula has a green card for legalpermanent residence in the United States.
The suspect’s national origin was not mentioned in court.
A college student who was on the same high school track team as Kandula told NBC News Tuesday that they are both members of the sizable American Indian community in Chesterfield, Missouri.
Kandula answered routine questions from Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather confirming his name and that he understood the procedure.
Kandula’s defense attorney, Diane Shrewsbury, requested a new pair of glasses for Kandula, telling Judge Meriweather that her client’s glasses had been taken away when he was arrested and that he was having trouble seeing.
Judge Meriweather said that she would handle that matter.
Kandula was ordered held without bail until at least his next court date on Tuesday afternoon.
Shrewsbury told reporters that he was not in a position to comment on the case, having first met Kandula just minutes earlier.
The suburban St. Louis youth allegedly told authorities that he admires Nazis and hoped to «seize power» following his U-Haul accident, authorities said.
Kandula is accused of renting a U-Haul truck at Dulles International Airport before crashing into a barrier on the north side of the White House around 9:35 p.m. ET Monday.
A passerby took video that appeared to show the driver of the U-Haul putting the 26-foot-long vehicle in reverse before jumping off the sidewalk and crashing into the curb barriers again.
In interviews with law enforcement after the incident, Kandula allegedly spoke fondly of the Nazis, who «have a great history,» according to a criminal complaint filed against the youth.
Kandula allegedly said that he admires the Nazis’ «authoritarian nature, eugenics and their unique world order,» the court document revealed.
Although President Joe Biden was at the White House during the alleged attack on Monday, the administration declined to say whether it was briefed on the accident as it unfolded.
He was fully briefed on the matter Tuesday morning by the Secret Service and Park Police, the White House said.
Daniel Barnes reported from Washington DC and David K. Li from New York City.