A man named Taylor Taranto, who was involved in the US Capitol riots, was arrested near former US President Barack Obama’s residence in Washington this week. According to federal prosecutors, Taranto, a 37-year-old former US Navy official and webmaster for the Republican Party, was found possessing two guns, 400 rounds of ammunition, and a machete in his van when he was apprehended. The arrest took place a few blocks away from Obama’s house, and he was chased down by US Secret Service agents.
Charges and Details of Capitol Attack
Taranto was charged with four misdemeanors related to the Capitol attack that occurred on January 6, 2021. The charges include disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. He was taken into custody after court documents were unsealed on Friday, and a detention hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday.
Taranto’s Involvement in the Riot
After attending then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, Taranto joined the rioters in the Upper West Terrace area. He was seen picking up and throwing pieces of metal scaffolding. Later, he entered the Capitol building and was near another rioter, Ashli Babbitt, when she was shot and killed by a police officer while climbing through a glass window that led to the House chambers. Before leaving the building, Taranto and other rioters scuffled with police officers.
Facebook Video Raises Concerns
A Facebook account that authorities say appears to be run by Taranto and his wife featured a video in which Taranto boasted about “stormin’ the capitol.” He captioned the video with the phrase, “lol I’m only sharing this so someone will report me to the feds and we can get this party rolling!”
No Threat to Public in Taranto’s Van
The explosives team thoroughly scanned Taranto’s van and confirmed that there was no threat to the public. However, further investigations are ongoing.
Comments from Taranto’s Attorney Awaited
An email seeking comments from Taranto’s attorney was sent on Friday but no response has been received yet.
Obamas’ Presence During the Arrest
It is not clear whether the Obamas were in their home at the time of Taranto’s arrest.
The situation remains under investigation as authorities seek to fully understand the extent of Taranto’s involvement in the Capitol attack.
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