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Two Defendants Plead Not Guilty in Federal Case Over Foiled White House UFC Attack Plot

The pleas move a consolidated eight-defendant terrorism indictment toward a Sept. 14 trial as prosecutors prepare to rely on seized chat logs, weapons and other physical evidence.

FILE - President Donald Trump arrives at the arena for the UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
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Overview

  • Prosecutors say the plot began in May and aimed to use explosive-equipped drones and coordinated snipers against the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn.
  • Investigators opened the probe after a family tip on June 10 and disrupted the plan before the June 14 event, leading to multi-state arrests and seizures of firearms, body armor, explosives, drones and communications devices.
  • A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment on July 9 charging eight men with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory.
  • Two defendants, Tycen Proper and Chandler Scaggs, pleaded not guilty on Thursday and Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. set their trial for Sept. 14, 2026 while the other six are being transferred to Ohio to face the consolidated case.
  • If convicted the charges carry up to 15 years for material support and up to life for the murder-conspiracy counts, and prosecutors say they will rely on seized chat logs and physical evidence gathered across jurisdictions.