A 20-year-old Indian-origin man, Sai Varshith Kandula, attempted to carry out an attack on the White House in May 2023 and has been sentenced to eight years in prison. He aimed to overthrow the democratically-elected government and establish a Nazi dictatorship, in what prosecutors have described as a premeditated act of violence. Kandula, a permanent U.S. resident originally from Hyderabad, pleaded guilty to charges related to the willful destruction of U.S. property on May 13, 2024. Along with his prison sentence, the district court imposed an additional three years of supervised release.
Nazi Dictatorship Attempt
Court documents reveal that Kandula sought to replace the U.S. government with a Nazi regime, positioning himself as the leader. As part of his plea agreement, Kandula admitted that he was willing to go as far as killing the U.S. President and other officials if necessary to accomplish his goal. Prosecutors stated that he aimed to influence government conduct through intimidation and coercion.
The Attack on the White House
Kandula planned the attack meticulously. He flew from St. Louis, Missouri, to Washington D.C. on May 22, 2023, where he rented a truck and drove to the White House. This wasn’t the first time Kandula had tried to gain access to the White House or security personnel. In April 2023, he had reached out to a security company in Virginia, requesting 25 armed guards and an armored convoy. In another attempt in early May, he tried unsuccessfully to rent a large truck for the attack.
On the evening of May 22, Kandula crashed the rented truck into the metal barriers outside the White House at around 9:35 p.m., near the intersection of H Street Northwest and 16th Street Northwest. He drove onto the sidewalk, causing pedestrians to flee the scene. The truck collided twice with the barriers before its engine began emitting smoke and leaking fluids.
Kandula then exited the truck and removed a Nazi flag, which featured a swastika in its center. Shortly after, U.S. Park Police and Secret Service officers arrested him at the scene.
Damage and Legal Proceedings
The attack caused approximately $4,322 in damage, as the National Park Service needed to repair the metal barriers and clean up the fluid spillage caused by the crashed truck. The U.S. The Department of Justice further clarified that Kandula intended to disrupt the U.S. government’s operations with his actions.
Sai Varshith Kandula’s sentence highlights the seriousness of the charges against him. The attempt to carry out a politically-motivated attack on the White House has sparked further concerns regarding extremism and the potential for violence motivated by hate ideologies.
