An 18-year-old apologized in federal court on Tuesday for sneaking past Secret Service agents and into Mar-a-Lago.
Secret Service agents arrested Mark Lindblom in November after the University of Wisconsin student tricked guards and entered Mar-a-Lago while President Trump was visiting the Palm Beach, Fla., resort over the Thanksgiving holiday. Lindblom pleaded guilty to one charge of entering restricted grounds and was sentenced to one year of probation, according to the Palm Beach Post.
The Wisconsin freshman sneaked onto the Florida resort by pretending to be a member. Lindblom stood in a line with club members to enter Mar-a-Lago on a whim and “to see how far I could get,” Lindblom said.
“Mr. Lindblom was wanded by Secret Service agents and he walked on through,” Lindblom’s attorney Marcos Beaton said. Lindblom was able to enter the members-only resort despite the club’s heightened security for Trump’s presence.
Lindblom walked around Mar-a-Lago for roughly 20 minutes before Secret Service agents arrested him near the club pool.
“We have no reason to believe he had a political, criminal or terroristic purpose,” Assistant U.S. Attorney John McMillan said. “It was a foolish decision he did on a lark.”
Lindblom’s stunt occurred several months before Secret Service agents arrested Yujing Zhang after the 32-year-old Chinese woman lied to guards and entered Mar-a-Lago while Trump was visiting in April. Zhang is charged with entering a restricted area and making false statements to law enforcement. She faces up to five years in prison.
Zhang was arrested with electronic equipment including a device meant to detect hidden cameras. Officials found $7,500 in cash in Zhang’s hotel room.
