The British man who allegedly tried to assassinate Donald Trump in June has suffered from “a lifetime of mental health problems” and didn’t understand what he was doing, his mother said in a Tuesday press conference.
Lynne Sandford, speaking to reporters in London, said her son Michael, 20, “would not have foreseen the consequences of his actions.” He has autism and Asperger’s syndrome, as well as problems with obsessive compulsiveness and anxiety, she said.
“He was very remorseful, profusely apologetic for any problems that he’s caused,” the mother said.
“He is in a really bad way, very emotional, fragile, very vulnerable, frightened and very bewildered.”
She said her son has been on suicide watch while awaiting trial in a Nevada jail, and his lawyer has been trying to bring him back to Britain. Sandford’s trial is set to start Aug. 21.
Police swarmed Michael Sandford at a June 18 Las Vegas rally when he tried to grab an officer’s gun after asking Trump for an autograph.
Sandford later told authorities he planned “to shoot and kill Trump,” according to an affidavit. The alleged assassin also said he expected to be killed by police.
The affidavit added that a Nevada gun range owner saw Sandford days before his arrest, practicing with a Glock .9mm handgun — the same weapon used by police at the Vegas rally.
Sandford pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal alien firearm possession, which could send him to prison for up to 30 years. He was not charged with any violent crimes.
It remains unclear when Sandford traveled to Las Vegas and what else he did there before tracking down Trump.
