United States v. Capoto

*68MEMORANDUM OPINION

CHRISTOPHER R. COOPER, United States District Judge

Federal law prohibits individuals from entering the White House grounds and other restricted areas without the lawful authority to do so. The Government charged Joseph Caputo with violating a provision of this law, 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(1), after he hurdled one of the White House’s perimeter fences and triggered a lockdown of the entire White House complex. Caputo seeks dismissal of the sole charge against him. He claims that his escapade constituted symbolic speech because he scaled the White House fence to highlight flaws in…