By NBC News
A lawyer for Joseph Caputo, the flag-draped 23-year-old accused of scaling a White House fence on Thanksgiving, told NBC News Sunday that his client was a “politically-conscious young man” who was simply trying to “deliver a message.”
It was a message, said the lawyer, Stephan Seeger, that “addresses the issues of education, the judiciary, the legal system. It’s a writing I suspect was earmarked for the government to see.”
Court documents have stated that Caputo left a suicide note, though Seeger said that “couldn’t be further from the truth.” Caputo’s words, he said, had been mischaracterized.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com