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Pilot who landed gyrocopter on Capitol lawn now wants to join Congress Pilot who landed gyrocopter on Capitol lawn wants to join Congress
(35 minutes later)
The man who landed a gyrocopter on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol has picked an opponent to target in his bid for a seat in Congress.The man who landed a gyrocopter on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol has picked an opponent to target in his bid for a seat in Congress.
It’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the Democratic National Committee who also represents a district in Florida stretching roughly from Weston to Miami.It’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the Democratic National Committee who also represents a district in Florida stretching roughly from Weston to Miami.
Douglas Hughes, 62, of Ruskin, Fla., in a court filing Wednesday declared that he planned “strong ground game for his campaign” and would “not engage in aerial civil disobedience.”Douglas Hughes, 62, of Ruskin, Fla., in a court filing Wednesday declared that he planned “strong ground game for his campaign” and would “not engage in aerial civil disobedience.”
Hughes pleaded guilty last month to a felony charge of flying without a license stemming from the incident in April in which he piloted a gyrocopter to the District and landed near the Capitol. The incident sparked security fears, although Hughes asserted it was a peaceful act of civil disobedience meant to raise awareness about the influence of money in politics. Hughes pleaded guilty last month to a felony charge of flying without a license stemming from the incident in April in which he piloted a gyrocopter to the District and landed near the Capitol. The incident sparked security fears, but Hughes asserted it was a peaceful act of civil disobedience meant to raise awareness about the influence of money in politics.
[Why Douglas Hughes landed a gyrocopter at the Capitol, in his own words][Why Douglas Hughes landed a gyrocopter at the Capitol, in his own words]
Hughes was allowed to remain free after his guilty plea, though he was subjected to a number of conditions, including that he not travel outside Hillsborough County, where he lives.Hughes was allowed to remain free after his guilty plea, though he was subjected to a number of conditions, including that he not travel outside Hillsborough County, where he lives.
He had already made public his intention to run for Congress in a filing last week asking the judge to let him travel all around Florida. At the time, though, Hughes declined to reveal who he would run against — doing so only after the judge requested more information about his congressional bid. He had already made public his intention to run for Congress in a filing last week asking the judge to let him travel all around Florida. At the time, though, Hughes declined to reveal whom he would run against — doing so only after the judge requested more information about his congressional bid.
Because she is the DNC chair, Wasserman Schultz’s name is familiar to voters far outside her district in Florida. Most recently, she found herself at the center of a political dust-up in which the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders sued the DNC over its access to key voter information. The dispute was resolved out of court. Because she is the DNC chair, Wasserman Schultz’s name is familiar to voters far outside her district in Florida. Most recently, she found herself at the center of a political dust-up in which the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) sued the DNC over its access to key voter information. The dispute was resolved out of court.
Hughes said in an interview Wednesday he was “very deliberately targeting” Wasserman Schultz’s district because Wasserman Schultz was the “poster child of establishment politics on the Democratic side” and had “done a horrible job as chair” of the party. He said she seemed to favor particular candidates and that it was problematic that she had scheduled fewer presidential primary debates than the Republicans, including some on Saturdays.Hughes said in an interview Wednesday he was “very deliberately targeting” Wasserman Schultz’s district because Wasserman Schultz was the “poster child of establishment politics on the Democratic side” and had “done a horrible job as chair” of the party. He said she seemed to favor particular candidates and that it was problematic that she had scheduled fewer presidential primary debates than the Republicans, including some on Saturdays.
“I want to get the money out of politics and return the power to the voters, rather than the connected voters and the wealthy,” Hughes said. “That’s what I flew for, and that’s what I I’m running for.”“I want to get the money out of politics and return the power to the voters, rather than the connected voters and the wealthy,” Hughes said. “That’s what I flew for, and that’s what I I’m running for.”
Spokespeople for Wasserman Schultz did not immediately return e-mail messages seeking comment. Spokesmen for Wasserman Schultz did not immediately return email messages seeking comment.
It is unlikely, of course, that Hughes could actually unseat Wasserman Schultz, though he pointed to David Brat’s recent upset of Eric Cantor in a Republican primary in Virginia as a reason for optimism. It is unlikely, of course, that Hughes could actually unseat Wasserman Schultz, though he pointed to David Brat’s upset of Eric Cantor in a Republican primary in Virginia as a reason for optimism.
His legal woes are also far from over. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 13, and prosecutors have said they will ask for a 10-month term.His legal woes are also far from over. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 13, and prosecutors have said they will ask for a 10-month term.
Hughes said he planned to move into Wasserman Schultz's district to facilitate his run. His lawyers wrote in court papers that he needed to travel all around the state to meet with community groups and others and he would need to go to Tallahassee personally to deliver the required election forms. Hughes has not yet filed those forms; his lawyers wrote in court papers that he cannot do so until May 2016. Hughes said he planned to move into Wasserman Schultz’s district to facilitate his run. His lawyers wrote in court papers that he needed to travel all around the state to meet with community groups and others and that he would need to go to Tallahassee personally to deliver the required election forms. Hughes has not yet filed those forms; his lawyers wrote in court papers that he cannot do so until May 2016.
Prosecutors have not yet responded to Hughes request to have his conditions of release modified, and a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. declined to comment Wednesday, saying, “We’ll respond in court at the appropriate time.” They have until Jan. 13. Prosecutors have not yet responded to Hughes’s request to have his conditions of release modified, and a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District declined to comment Wednesday, saying, “We’ll respond in court at the appropriate time.” They have until Jan. 13.