Gyrocopter Pilot Who Landed at U.S. Capitol Indicted on 6 Charges

By Sherri Lonon (Patch Staff)

Doug Hughes, the Florida mailman who made national headlines by landing on the U.S. Capitol lawn on April 15 with a Tax Day message for Congress, has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Hughes, 61, faces six charges and possible prison time, according to several media outlets. The U.S. attorney’s office in the District of Columbia reportedly announced the indictments Wednesday.

Hughes is set for an appearance in federal court Thursday. Charges against him include three violations of national defense airspace, operating a vehicle falsely labeled as a postal carrier, operating as an airman without certification and violation registration requirements. The latter two charges are felonies, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Hughes’ Tax Day special delivery resulted in a temporary lockdown of the Capitol Visitor Center and the Florida man’s arrest.

See Also:

• Peaceful Protest Prompted U.S. Capital Lawn Gyrocopter Landing, Pilot Says
• Capitol-Landing Pilot Was Just Doing His Job, Attorney Says
• Washington Goes on Brief Alert as Rogue Pilot Lands on Capital Lawn

Hughes had been on a crusade to draw attention to the need for America to reform its campaign finance rules for some time. His website,thedemocracyclub.org, detailed his plans to personally deliver letters to all members of Congress to raise awareness about campaign finance corruption. Those letters were in Hughes’ possession at the time of his landing.

Hughes’ wife, Alena, retained attorney Paul Carr following the incident. Carr insisted in April, Hughes was simply doing his job as a postman delivering mail.

On his website, Hughes announced plans for the flight long ago and made it clear his intentions were peaceful.

“Let me say first – this is a non-violent demonstration,” Hughes wrote on his website long before Wednesday’s flight. “I have no intention of hurting anyone – I have taken every precaution to prevent any injury to anyone, including me.“

What do you think should happen here? Should Hughes face prison time or was he just a mailman on a mission? Tell us what you think by commenting below.