A Pennsylvania man who was arrested Wednesday for threatening to detonate a bomb in a truck parked in front of the White House told a Secret Service agent he was using the bomb as “leverage” to speak to President Barack Obama about repressive truck regulations.
Krzysztof Wasik, 44, of Hazle Township, PA, was charged with threatening and conveying false information regarding the use of an explosive after he told a Secret Service agent that he had parked a truck which he said contained a bomb in front of the Veterans Affairs Building, according to a report in the Washington City Paper.
Surrounding streets and one of the entrances to the McPherson Square Metro station were shut down as the Secret Service inspected the vehicle for explosives. No bomb was found in the truck.
Wasik was using the “bomb” as leverage to speak with President Obama about truck regulations, according to a statement of facts from the Secret Service agent. “He was upset about the rules and regulations concerning semi- trucks and was angry about fines that he had to pay,” the statement reads.
“I know what it takes to get things done around here,” the statement reports Wasik saying. “I have a bomb in my truck parked 500 feet from here.”
Wasik insisted that he wanted the bomb to go off, even after he was in custody. “I don’t care if children or veterans are harmed by the bomb,” Wasik said, according to the statement. “I only care about speaking to the President.”
