Tower Climber Wanted to Talk to Trump

His message to everyone else was 'vote Trump'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 11, 2016 5:05 AM CDT

The man who scaled Trump Tower using suction cups Wednesday afternoon apparently just wanted to chat. NBC New York identifies the climber as Stephen Rogata, a 19-year-old from Virginia who was taken to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric evaluation after cops hauled him in from the 21st floor. "I am an independent researcher seeking a private audience with you to discuss an important matter," a man believed to be Rogata says in a brief YouTube video titled "Message to Mr. Trump" posted under the name of children's fantasy character Leven Thumps.

"The reason I climbed your tower is to get your attention," Rogata says in the video. "If I had sought this via conventional means, I would be much less likely to have success because you are a busy man with many responsibilities." He urged anybody else watching the video to share it—and to vote for Trump in November. Trump lives at the top of the 58-story tower, but he was away Wednesday for campaign rallies in Virginia and Florida, the New York Daily News reports. "Great job today by the NYPD in protecting the people and saving the climber," Trump tweeted after Rogata was taken away. (More Donald Trump stories.)

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