Joseph Caputo scaled the north fence line of the White House Complex Nov. 26 gaining access to the North Grounds. (Photo by Vanessa Peña) (Photo: Vanessa Peña)A Connecticut man who jumped the White House fence draped in an American flag last Thanksgiving Day pleaded guilty Monday to a federal misdemeanor violation of illegal entry of restricted grounds in a deal with prosecutors, who agreed to seek a sentence of three years’ probation. [Man draped in American flag scales White House fence]The plea came after Cooper denied a defense motion to dismiss the case last month. “There is, after all, no First Amendment right to express one’s self in a nonpublic area like the White House,” Cooper wrote. Authorities are reviewing plans to begin construction in 2018 of a nearly 12-foot-tall fence around the White House, compared with the existing 7-foot-tall barrier.

Source: Washington Post September 12, 2016 15:49 UTC