Update, Thursday, Oct. 27 at 10:01 a.m.
James Lambert Otis was taken into custody this morning on suspicion of felony vandalism, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Otis had told reporters he planned to hold a 9:30 a.m. news conference with his attorney at the site of Trump’s star before turning himself in, however, he was arrested before the news conference occurred.
Previously…
James Lambert Otis, the man who admitted to taking a sledgehammer and pick-axe to Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is speaking out about why he did it and what he hoped to accomplish.
Otis, 53, was recorded on video Wednesday at 5:45 a.m. by entertainment website Deadline.com as he removed Trump’s gold-colored name and the television logo from the sidewalk in the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard.
In an interview several hours later, Otis said he decided to take action because he was troubled by the accounts of the 11 women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct and the Republican presidential nominee’s subsequent denials.
“The reason why I took the star was to auction it on Election Day, and raise as much money as I can for the women who have been exploited by Mr. Trump,” Otis said by telephone.
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Kimberlin Brown, a former soap opera actress, who spoke on behalf of the Trump campaign Wednesday, described the vandalism as an attempt to intimidate voters, and to promote a false narrative about Trump, who earned a Hollywood star as a producer of televised beauty pageants and “The Apprentice.”
Brown also criticized the media for focusing so much attention on the incident.
“Something like this happening, it also means they are not talking about Hillary and WikiLeaks,” she said in a telephone interview.
As for Otis, who lives in West Hollywood, he said his attorney has spoken with the Los Angeles Police Department and he expects to turn himself in soon. Read his full interview below.
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Why did you do this?
I was just so fed up, so saddened and fed up by Mr. Trump and how he continues to denigrate women, and he continues to joke and make fun about sexual violence and his own exploits against women. And personally, I have in my own family, several people who have been sexually assaulted, including my brother and it hurts a lot. It doesn’t go away. It’s an issue that’s very important to me…
The reason why I took the star was to auction it on Election Day, and raise as much money as I can for the women who have been exploited by Mr. Trump, sexually assaulted by Mr. Trump. There’s also another organization we’re giving money to called The George Washington Republications against sexual assault.
The police are apparently looking for you, have they contacted you?
They have. They contacted me about two hours ago, and I set up a meeting with my attorney today, and will be giving myself up after that. I have not given the time and place.
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Will your attorney accompany you to a police station?
I think so, with a bail bondsman. I did say when I turn myself in, it would be to the Hollywood police station because that’s (the division) where the non-violent action occurred.
You own a business?
Yes. I buy homes and fix them up and sell them. I also have the largest collection of Dr. Seuss original artwork in the country. And I also teach non-violent social theory, non-violent direct action and Gandhi.
What would you say to Mr. Trump?
It’s just a big joke to him. I have children; I have many women in my life who don’t think it’s a joke. But he does. He lies about it, he shuffles and I don’t see, there’s no reason to believe at all that it will ever stop now. He’ll continue to do this, he’ll continue to make women suffer. So that’s what I’d tell him. “You need help. Please understand that.”
When did you come up with the idea to do this?
I think it was about six weeks ago that I started planning for it. I know it sounds like a long time to plan, but it was everything from getting all the activities, to getting some press organized to get a location set up. There were two nights that I went and spent the night there, right next to Mr. Trump (Trump’s star). It was cold, it was hard and it was an awful experience.
The journalists with cameras there, did you invite them?
No. When I asked them, I spoke to some of the press earlier about the event. But I asked them how they got there and they said “we were just coming by.” They were not specific press that were invited.
Well, how did the big TV camera and Deadline Hollywood know to be there at 5:45 a.m.?
I did not invite them. I invited someone else, that did not show up.
Are you a Democrat or Republican?
I’m a Democrat, I’m a Bernie Democrat.
Do you plan to vote for Hillary Clinton?
Hell yeah. I love Hillary.
Did the LAPD say what charges you’re facing?
No they didn’t. I just heard on the radio, “vandalism felony.” And I’ve heard various years in prison and I hope they’re generous and I hope they are fair.
Was it worth it?
Absolutely, absolutely. I really do think it’s worth it because it has brought attention to violence against women.
Staff Writer Ryan Carter contributed to this story.
