Clinton campaign office hostage-taker to be arraigned Monday (pic)

[God23]

Portrait of a tragic man.

By James Pindell, Globe Correspondent

ROCHESTER, N.H. -- The man who claimed to have a bomb and took hostages inside one of Hillary Clinton's small presidential campaign field offices yesterday will be formally charged on six criminal counts carrying with them a maximum penalty of 42 years in jail, the Rochester police said today.

Leeland Eisenberg, 46, of Somersworth, N.H., will be arraigned Monday afternoon at Rochester District Court, a police spokesman said. Eisenberg is currently being held at Strafford County Jail in nearby Dover.

Sometime around noon Friday Eisenberg claimed to have a bomb strapped around his torso with duct tape. For 5 1/2 hours he held off police and demanded to speak to Clinton because he wanted her to help him get access to mental healthcare. When he surrendered, authorities discovered the devices that looked like explosives were actually road flares.

<Snip>

Four adults and an infant were at the office when Eisenberg entered. Eisenberg will be charged with four counts of kidnapping and one count each of criminal threatening and use of false explosives. All six of the charges are Class B felonies, for which the maximum penalty, exclusive of fine, is imprisonment in excess of one year but not in excess of 7 years. Federal authorities are also considering filing charges.

Callahan said his police department had been aware for Eisenberg for approximately two years, but refused to say how, citing concerns that it would impede the criminal investigation taking place. Eisenberg was one of 541 victims of the clergy sex abuse scandal who received payments in the landmark 2003 settlement with the Catholic church in Boston. He also has been in legal trouble over the years and spent time in a Massachusetts prison. He was due in court yesterday on a domestic violence complaint filed by his wife, who was divorcing him.

More at: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2007/12/by_james_pindel.html

[Rock_Garden]

1. I'm glad it turned out that he was more to be pitied than feared.

[napi21]

2. SOOO, this IS the same Leeland Eisenberg a DUer asked about

yesterday! He asled if it was the same guy who had file a claim against the Catholic Chruch. I can't help but feel very sorry for that guy. He's really had a lot of saddness in his life.

[God23]

3. There are several reports out today that seem to be confirming that.

[helderheid]

4. "She" asked, actually

:hi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2379690&mesg_id=2379690

[God23]

6. Thanks! I was about to go hunting for the thread to give credit

where credit is due!

[Bucky]

5. I hope he gets the help he needs.

Especially since I fully expect to see him on Fox as a news analyst within the next year or so.

[God23]

7. He won't. At least not in this country. n/t