Dec 3, 2007 2:20 pm US/Eastern
Clinton Office Hostage Suspect Held On $500K Bond
ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) ―
The man accused of taking hostages at a Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign office last week watched impassively during his video arraignment Monday as he was portrayed alternately as a desperate man seeking psychiatric help and a manipulative, longtime criminal.
The judge ordered Leeland Eisenberg held on $500,000 cash bail on six felony charges and ordered a psychiatriac evaluation for him.
"I want to make sure that this man doesn't go anywhere until he is dealt with properly," Rochester District Court Judge Daniel Cappiello said.
Strafford County Attorney Janice Rundles asked for the high bail, saying Eisenberg, 46, has a long criminal record, including two rape convictions, and would be a threat to the public.
His public defender, Randy Hawkes, said Eisenberg was profoundly sorry for the trauma he caused to the campaign workers and the disruption he caused to the campaign. Hawkes also said Eisenberg, who had made repeated suicide attempts in the past, wanted to thank the police for not shooting him, even though he asked them to on Friday. Hawkes said the incident was the act of a desperate man who had been turned away many times in his quest for help.
He allegedly took hostages at Clinton's storefront office in Rochester on Friday, showing them what he said was a bomb strapped to his chest. Authorities said it turned out to be road flares.
No one was hurt in the 5 1/2-hour drama.
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