Man who flew gyrocopter onto lawn of Capitol enters plea

Nov 20 A Florida man who flew a gyrocopter onto the U.S. Capitol grounds to publicize campaign finance reform pleaded guilty on Friday to a reduced charge. After he landed on the west lawn of the capital, he said he undertook the journey in his one-man flying machine to call attention to the influence of big money in politics.

Doug Hughes says he flew the gyrocopter from Pennsylvania to Washington in April to deliver letters to Congress about campaign finance reform.

Douglas Hughes, 62, a mail carrier from Ruskin, Florida, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one felony count of operating as an airman without an airman’s certificate.

Hughes’ attorney Tony Miles told Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on Friday that Hughes only wants to walk and speak, but the judge said she needed more information about the march before ruling on whether Hughes should be allowed to participate. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000.

In May, he plead not guilty to six federal charges, and in June, he rejected a plea deal that would have meant several years in prison.

As part of his plea agreement, Hughes has agreed to forfeit the gyrocopter, which authorities seized immediately after the stunt that took most of the nation’s capital by surprise.

Hughes told reporters he started his campaign against money in politics as he was seeking a objective in life following the suicide of his 24-year-old son.