The Florida man who is accused of sending mail bombs to several high-profile Democrats last year is arguing that he was not aware the pipe bombs could hurt anyone.
Cesar Sayoc was arrested in October after packages were sent to billionaire George Soros, former Vice President Joe Biden, the Clintons, former President Barack Obama, and even the New York City and Atlanta offices of CNN.
According to the New York Post, Sayoc said in a new court filing he was unaware the devices he is accused of building and mailing would be harmful.
Sayoc admitted to Judge Jed Rakoff that he answered "yes" when originally asked if he knew the devices could hurt anyone. But in the letter to Rakoff, he claimed his lawyer instructed him to say that.
"In my heart I wanted to say no," Sayoc said, adding that he made the initial claim under "extreme emotional circumstances."
Sayoc pleaded guilty last month to 65 charges, stemming from allegations that he mailed bombs to 16 targets.
Sayoc was living in a van decorated with stickers in support of President Donald Trump and images of Trump's opponents with crosshairs over their faces at the time of his arrest.