Sai Varshith Kandula planned to overthrow the US government with Nazi-inspired ideology, causing $4,322 in damages during his failed attack.
January 17, 2025: An Indian national, Sai Varshith Kandula, 20, was sentenced to eight years in prison on Thursday for attempting an attack on the White House with a rented truck on May 22, 2023. The Department of Justice stated Kandula’s intent was to overthrow the democratically elected US government and replace it with a dictatorship inspired by Nazi ideology.
Kandula, originally from Chandanagar, India, and a lawful permanent resident of the US with a green card, pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024, to a charge of willful injury or depredation of US property. In addition to his prison term, District Court Judge Dabney L Friedrich imposed three years of supervised release.
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The Incident
Court documents revealed that Kandula flew from St. Louis, Missouri, to Washington, D.C., on a one-way ticket. After landing at Dulles International Airport around 5:20 pm, he rented a truck and drove to the White House. At 9:35 pm, Kandula crashed the vehicle into the barriers protecting the White House at the intersection of H Street and 16th Street Northwest.
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Pedestrians scrambled as the truck struck the barriers twice, with the second impact disabling the vehicle. Kandula then exited the truck, removed a Nazi flag from his backpack, and brandished it. US Park Police and Secret Service officers arrested him on the spot.
Kandula’s Intent
The Justice Department revealed that Kandula meticulously planned the attack for weeks. His goal was to gain access to the White House, seize political power, and replace the US government with a dictatorship under his rule. He admitted to investigators that he would have arranged for the killing of the US President and others if necessary to achieve his objective.
“Kandula’s actions were calculated to intimidate and coerce the government,” the Department of Justice stated.
Damage and Preparations
The failed attack caused $4,322 in damages to the National Park Service, including repairs to metal barriers, spill cleanup, and disposal of fluids from the truck. Before the attack, Kandula made multiple attempts to secure vehicles and armed security guards. He contacted several companies to rent large trucks or arrange armed convoys but was unsuccessful in his efforts.
Conclusion
Kandula’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the threats posed by extremist ideologies. The Department of Justice reiterated the importance of safeguarding democratic institutions against such calculated attempts to undermine them.
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