Man charged with shining laser pointer at Marine One with Trump aboard
Federal prosecutors say a Washington, D.C., man directed a laser at Marine One during a presidential flight; the charge carries up to five years in prison.
Jacob Samuel Winkler, 33, of Washington, D.C., was charged in a federal court with aiming the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison, in connection with an incident that occurred while President Donald Trump was aboard Marine One.
According to a court affidavit, Marine One was in the air near the White House on Saturday when a U.S. Secret Service patrol officer spotted Winkler walking on a sidewalk, shirtless and talking to himself. The officer said he shone a flashlight at Winkler, who then flashed a red laser beam at the officer's face. As Marine One flew overhead, Winkler looked up and directed the laser pointer at the helicopter.
After the officer handcuffed him, Winkler repeatedly said he intended to apologize to Trump, according to the affidavit. Investigators also found a small knife in Winkler's possession. Online court records did not list an attorney representing him.
Authorities said there was no immediate indication that anyone aboard Marine One saw the laser, but the affidavit noted that the beam could have temporarily blinded or disoriented a pilot, placing Marine One at risk of an airborne collision with other helicopters in the area. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro described the conduct as dangerous to Marine One and its crew and pledged that anyone who targets the aircraft will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Winkler told investigators that he points the laser at various things, such as stop signs, and did not know he could not point it at Marine One, the affidavit says.
Federal officials framed the case as a reminder of the safety risks surrounding presidential flight operations and the ongoing vigilance around Marine One missions.