Christopher Rodriguez, a Florida-based lawyer, recently admitted to charges related to violent acts targeted at symbols of communist leadership, including an unsuccessful attempt to detonate an explosive device near the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. The guilty plea entered on charges of property damage, the use of explosive materials, and possession of unregistered firearms (destructive devices) was confirmed today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves of the District of Columbia and ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai, as detailed in a report from The Department of Justice.

Court documents unveiled Rodriguez's journey from Florida to Washington, where he attempted the bombing. On September 23-24, 2023, he transported explosives from Panama City, Fla., to the vicinity of the Chinese diplomatic premises. He purchased incognito supplies such as a black backpack, gloves, and a burner phone, and proceeded to place the bomb by the embassy, attempting to set it off with rifle shots. Fortunately, the device malfunctioned.

Another part of Rodriguez's violent spree occurred in Texas. Court records indicate he was responsible for an explosion in November 2022 that damaged a satirical sculpture in San Antonio. This artwork, the "Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head," was targeted by Rodriguez in an attack that blasted and disfigured the controversial piece.

Rodriguez was apprehended by the ATF on November 4, 2023, and has since been detained. DNA obtained from the backpack at the embassy site linked Rodriguez to the explosives, confirming a match with evidence from an earlier arrest in California. This DNA match was further validated by a buccal swab warrant, firmly associating Rodriguez with the botched embassy attack and the defacing of the Mao and Lenin effigy.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving several divisions of the ATF, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and the Metropolitan Police Department, along with multiple U.S. Attorney's Offices. The prosecution is currently being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jolie F. Zimmerman and Stuart D. Allen, with aid from other members of the legal team.