Man Arraigned in DC Federal Court for White House Intrusion Attempt

Jonathan Tran, 26, of Milpitas, California, was arraigned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., on charges of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds while using or carrying a dangerous weapon[1][3]. The breach occurred just before midnight on Friday, April 24, 2026, when Tran scaled a roughly 6-foot fence near the Treasury Building at 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., adjacent to the White House's south perimeter[1][3][4]. Secret Service agents patrolling the grounds spotted the backpack-carrying intruder, who claimed to be a friend of the president with an appointment and peacefully surrendered upon confrontation[3][4]. According to a Secret Service affidavit, surveillance video captured Tran jumping the northwest courtyard fence, and he was found carrying two cans of mace—deemed dangerous weapons under federal law[1][3]. Tran also possessed a letter referencing Russian hackers, though authorities reported no hazardous items in his backpack after a thorough search of the south and north grounds[1][4]. The incident prompted a full security sweep, but no broader threats were identified, with the White House confirming the swift response prevented any escalation[1][3]. This breach echoes past White House intrusions that have rattled D.C.'s tight security apparatus, including a 2017 fence-jumper incident involving a similar profile and a 2014 case where Omar Gonzalez entered the residence[1][5]. Tran's initial appearance was Saturday in D.C. Superior Court, with a bond hearing set for Monday in federal court[3]. As the case unfolds in the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse at 333 Constitution Ave. N.W., D.C. officials emphasize ongoing vigilance amid rising concerns over perimeter vulnerabilities in the heart of the nation's capital[1][3].