Capitol Lawn-Landing Pilot Eyes Congressional Run

RUSKIN, FL – The Florida man who tried to raise awareness about the need for campaign finance reform by landing a gyrocopter on the U.S. Capitol lawn on Tax Day isn’t finished making headlines.

Douglas Hughes is eyeing a run for the U.S. House of Representatives, several media outlets have reported. He’s not saying which seat he plans to go after, but was quoted by WTOP as saying his plan is to run against a Democrat who is a “poster child for establishment politics.” He also said he plans to move to the representative’s district, which is in South Florida. There is some speculation he intends to run for the seat currently held by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, but Hughes won’t confirm that.

Before Hughes can run, however, he must face sentencing in the crime he pleaded guilty to. He’s expected to be sentenced on April 13, 2016, for landing the gyrocopter at the Capitol. He faces up to 10 months in prison, but Hughes’ attorneys have stated they plan to see probation.

See Also:

• U.S. Capitol Lawn Landing Pilot Enters Guilty Plea
• Gyrocopter Pilot Who Landed On U.S. Capitol Lawn Indicted on 6 Charges
• Peaceful Protest Prompted U.S. Capitol 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 Capitol Lawn

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

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 before it happened and made it clear his intentions were peaceful.

“Let me say first – this is a non-violent demonstration,” Hughes wrote. “I have no intention of hurting anyone – I have taken every precaution to prevent any injury to anyone, including me.”

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