Man who claims to have damaged Trump’s Walk of Fame star speaks out
While Los Angeles police have yet to make an official arrest in connection with the destruction of Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame early Wednesday, L.A. resident James Otis is more than happy to claim responsibility.
Otis -- who says he is a nonviolent activist who has been arrested up to 24 times -- released a video to TMZ explaining his actions and acknowledging his guilt for the act of vandalism.
“The reason I did it was because of the amount of sexual assaults that not only my own family has experienced, but the many women that Donald Trump has done this to,” Otis said in his video. “The point of the exercise was to take the star and auction it off and take that money and distribute it to the women who have been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump.”
His early morning prank didn’t exactly go as planned, though, as the concrete and marble proved to difficult to crack.
“I didn’t get the actual star, but I got the emblem and the entire name,” he said. “I just had a sledgehammer and a pick...I really wanted to do this,” Otis said.
Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said they are cooperating with police and intend to prosecute whoever is responsible “to the full extent of the law.” Gubler also said the star would be repaired as quickly as possible.
With a reported value of $30,000, Otis could be facing a felony charge.
“I have an attorney and I’m sure I will turn myself in shortly,” he said.