File photo of the White House in Washington, United States.
Washington:
A man with a knife who scaled the White House fence and burst through the mansion's front doors is due in federal court on Monday, after the incident sparked a wide-ranging security review.
Omar Gonzalez, 42, is facing charges of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Copperas Cove, Texas man served two tours of duty in Iraq with the US Army. His former stepson told CNN that Gonzalez suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and paranoia.
Following Friday's breach minutes after President Barack Obama and his family had left the presidential compound, the Secret Service tightened security.
The agency's chief Julia Pierson, who launched an investigation into the security failure, also ordered increased patrols and surveillance around the fence line of the White House complex.
US media reported that the Secret Service was considering setting up security checkpoints for tourists and other visitors several blocks away from the building, rather than on the grounds as currently takes place.
The move is complicated by an effort to ensure security at one of Washington's top tourist attractions without making the building foreboding due to overmilitarized defenses.
The fence-jumper caused a rare evacuation of much of the staff and journalists on the White House grounds.
And less than 24 hours later, another security scare took place when Kevin Carr, 19, tried to enter the area with his car despite barricades.
After his arrest, Gonzalez told a Security Service agent that "he was concerned that the atmosphere was collapsing and needed to get the information to the president of the United States so that he could get the word out to the people," according to an affidavit.
Omar Gonzalez, 42, is facing charges of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Copperas Cove, Texas man served two tours of duty in Iraq with the US Army. His former stepson told CNN that Gonzalez suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and paranoia.
Following Friday's breach minutes after President Barack Obama and his family had left the presidential compound, the Secret Service tightened security.
The agency's chief Julia Pierson, who launched an investigation into the security failure, also ordered increased patrols and surveillance around the fence line of the White House complex.
US media reported that the Secret Service was considering setting up security checkpoints for tourists and other visitors several blocks away from the building, rather than on the grounds as currently takes place.
The move is complicated by an effort to ensure security at one of Washington's top tourist attractions without making the building foreboding due to overmilitarized defenses.
The fence-jumper caused a rare evacuation of much of the staff and journalists on the White House grounds.
And less than 24 hours later, another security scare took place when Kevin Carr, 19, tried to enter the area with his car despite barricades.
After his arrest, Gonzalez told a Security Service agent that "he was concerned that the atmosphere was collapsing and needed to get the information to the president of the United States so that he could get the word out to the people," according to an affidavit.
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