Laser Pointer at Trump’s Helicopter: Acquittal in 35 Minutes Fuels Criticism of Jeanine Pirro
A Washington D.C. jury acquitted Jacob Winkler of a felony charge for allegedly shining a laser at Marine One, a setback for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Winkler’s arrest stemmed from a Secret Service agent’s observation of a red beam directed at the helicopter carrying President Trump, despite the maximum five-year prison sentence. After the verdict, Winkler’s public defenders stated the case wasted resources and highlighted the practice of “policing poverty”. This acquittal reflects a pattern of cases brought by Pirro’s office, which have often been unsuccessful and criticized for inflating crime statistics in the city.
John Q. Hosedrinker