WASHINGTON — A District Heights man who served time in prison says he was denied entry to two White House events in the last six months. He believes he was turned away because of his criminal history.
Eric Weaver said he was invited to participate in an anti-violence event at the White House Monday, but was turned away after providing his identification.
"They say you've been denied," Weaver said. "Then they tell another guy, Kobe Williams, who was in the panel, you've been denied too."
The two men say they provided the U.S. Secret Service with the information requested for the screening process ahead of their visit. Weaver said they were not provided an explanation as to why they were denied access.
"Clearly we knew both of us were the only two people who had been previously incarcerated," he said.
Weaver spent 22 years in prison for first-degree murder. Since 2016, he has been helping formerly incarcerated people through his organization the National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens.
"When you talk about violence prevention, and reentry of returning citizens, you can't separate the two," Weaver said.
Weaver said he was looking forward to providing insight during Monday's event, but instead was met with another embarrassing moment.
"The first time that it happened, I was hurt. This time I was disappointed," he said.
In December, Weaver faced a similar incident when he tried attending a White House holiday open house with his granddaughter.
"While we regret any inconvenience this may have caused, some individuals were not admitted entry to the White House complex for holiday events held on Dec. 18," a U.S. Secret Service spokesperson told WUSA9 at the time.
Days later, Weaver returned to the White House to receive a tour alongside his family.
"If we can't get the door open to the White House, then why would anyone else open the door for us?" Weaver said about the most recent denial.
In a statement to WUSA9, a Secret Service spokesperson said, "An individual was not admitted entry to the White House complex for an event on June 17. Out of concern for operational security, we are not able to comment further on the means and methods used to conduct our security operations at the White House."
Weaver said this issue is larger than him. He says he is used to facing additional scrutiny as a returning citizen, but he is concerned about the message it sends others who are building their post-prison future.
"It lowers the morale of people who look at me like the voice of them," Weaver said. "They're looking like, if they do that to Eric, they definitely will do it to me.'
Weaver said he will not be returning to the White House until he can be a part of a greater conversation about how to improve the screening process for returning citizens like him.
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.