The Florida pilot who landed his gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn must be held accountable, says former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Pete Hoekstra.
"We've got a capital and we've got public facilities in Washington, D.C., and all around the country that are always going to be vulnerable. You will never design a fool-proof system," Hoekstra told J.D. Hayworth on "America's Forum" on
Newsmax TV Thursday.
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A 61-year-old mailman was arrested Wednesday for
landing his gyrocopter on the lawn outside of the Capitol in an attempt to deliver 535 letters to all members of Congress in protest of campaign finance corruption. The stunt was planned and publicized, and Doug Hughes says that he even notified the authorities beforehand.
"I don't think we applaud this gentleman at all for exposing the vulnerabilities that the capital faces," the Michigan Republican said. "We know that they exist ... We know what those vulnerabilities are."
"What this guy did, he needs to be taught a very, very serious lesson and be held accountable for what he did," he said.
"We've got to start sending a message to people who do this, who jump the fence, that you start messing with security, which is a very serious issue around the Capitol and the White House, you'll get the book thrown at you, and you're going to jail," Hoekstra said.
"Even though he notified the [Secret Service], supposedly the newspaper knew about this, we will ask the question, 'Why didn't the Capitol Hill police find out about this?'"
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