Man Faces Felony Charge for Aiming Laser at Marine One with President Trump

Jacob Samuel Winkler was arrested and charged with a federal felony for aiming a red laser pointer at Marine One while President Donald Trump was aboard. Secret Service officers observed Winkler shirtless and behaving erratically near the White House before he targeted the laser at an officer's eyes and then at the presidential helicopter as it was taking off. This act posed a significant risk of flash blindness and pilot disorientation, potentially endangering the helicopter and those on board by increasing the risk of collision. Winkler, who was carrying a fixed-blade knife, apologized to President Trump and claimed he was unaware that pointing a laser at an aircraft was illegal. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This incident adds to recent security concerns surrounding Marine One, which had an emergency landing during a prior presidential trip.