I pulled a wagon with 32 gallons water, 2 gallons fuel, Coleman stove, 2 big pots and coffee, tea, and fixins, early morning and set up to make coffee on the sidewalk East of the Capitol across from the Supreme Court. >https://thedonald.win/p/11Rh1TzkED/i-brought-600-coffees-for-those-/> .

I had boiled 5 gallons and was beginning to give out coffee. It wasn't crowded yet, everyone was at the ellipse. Two Capitol police came up and told me no selling on the grounds. After I said it is free they told me no open fire on the Capitol grounds. I immediately turned it off and said I would move offsite after I served the boiling hot water.They came back in 5 minutes and said to get the fuel off NOW!

I had to regroup with a new plan. I needed to buy a couple gatoraide coolers to shuttle hot water 2 blocks from offsite. I asked the police at the temp barricade perimeter if across 2nd NW was not gov ground. I took my wagon there and told the S Court police across the street what I was doing.

I came from Indiana alone so hoped the stuff would be ok while I drove 3 miles for coolers. The round trip took a while w heavy traffic. When I got back they had closed more streets and I had to drive against a closed one way street to get near my wagon. I figured that is why the police were walking to me was for a ticket. I got out and met them part way. "Are you the guy with the cart?" I answered yes the Mazda is mine. "No the wagon and stove." (UhOh!)

"They got a call for unattended suspicious items" (UhOh!) "The bomb squad unloaded my wagon and xrayed it all on the side walk" (Oh Shit!!!) The other policeman was calling. My guy said you have any weapons in your back pack? Nope. "How about in your car?" (Fuck!!!) Nope. We stood there a while waiting on the supervisor. "Can you take your hand out of your pockets?" (It was cold) OK.

Two investigators we were waiting on showed up. Name, drivers license, ss number. One guy gets on phone. The other starts asking questions and answered mine. They had talked with the Capitol police that ran me off earlier. They talked with an older couple who talked to me while i set up, up to when I left. The guy questioning me was with intelligence of one of the 3 branches of US gov. I won't get specific because if you knew his title and position one could find his name.

He was very professional as were the DC police. No yelling or threatening behavior. It helped i have a clear background. The breach of the Capitol happened about an hour later. I don't know when the found either of the pipe bombs.

Yes I know it was stupid to leave unattended packages. You don't think of things like that in our flyover states. I was also pissed about getting run off the Capitol when they could see what I was doing and doing safely. I know they deal with everything from dumb old men like me to dangerous true terrorists.

I got off lucky but still it terribly sad how much freedom we have lost in my short 59 years.