Police: Man claims bomb in trunk at White House checkpoint
WASHINGTON — A man who drove to a security checkpoint near the White House in a stolen car and was arrested after stating “there’s a bomb in the trunk,” later told authorities that the object in the trunk was an asteroid and that he communicates telepathically with the president.
According to a court document filed Monday, 29-year-old Sean Patrick Keoughan of Roanoke, Virginia, approached the checkpoint at 10 p.m. Saturday and said he had a meeting with President Donald Trump. Officers found no record for a meeting and Keoughan left. He approached again at 11 p.m. and made the statement about the bomb. He also said “this is a test,” according to the document.
Keoughan was arrested and has been charged with threatening and conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive. The charge is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors said in a statement that at a Monday court hearing Keoughan was ordered held in jail until another hearing Thursday. A mental health screening was also ordered. Keoughan’s attorney, Dani Jahn, a federal public defender, declined to comment when reached by telephone Monday afternoon.