Family: Clinton hostage suspect just wanted help

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: AP

ROCHESTER, N.H. — The man accused of taking five people hostage at a Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign office desperately wanted help with a drinking problem, but lacked insurance and money to pay for it, his family said today.

Leeland Eisenberg, 46, is accused of walking into the Clinton office on Friday afternoon with what appeared to be explosives strapped to his body, demanding to speak to Clinton about mental health care, authorities said.

"It was an act of desperation to try and get help," his stepson, Ben Warren, told ABC's Good Morning America today.

Eisenberg was scheduled to be arraigned today on charges of kidnapping, criminal threatening and fraudulent use of a bomb-like device. The five-hour crisis ended peacefully, after all the hostages were released and Eisenberg walked out to surrender.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5347167.html

[TrogL]

1. There is a free program for drinking problems

[NavyDavy]

2. inhouse? or aa which you can walk out of a get a drink at

the bar next door?

[htuttle]

5. In my experience, the only time the inpatient treatments are free...

...is when a court orders them. Even then, they might send you a bill later on.

[robbedvoter]

3. He was due in court that day for domestic abuse - so I can only imagine

the "help" he would have asked of Hillary had he got a hold of her. Whatever his delusion was, it centered on hatred of women - that much is clear.

[Rock_Garden]

4. You're right.

His actions were entirely selfish. He probably won't even remember what he did, even though he planned it with some care. He's plain old pickled with alcohol.

[bluestateguy]

6. He's not likely to get it now

He'll end up in prison, where punishment takes precedence over rehabilitation.

I'll put this as gently as I can: if he had only threatened to kill himself in a public place, and no one else, he might have received a more sympathetic response.