A man arrested near former President Barack Obama’s Washington, D.C. home is facing charges related to the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Court documents revealed that the individual, Taylor Taranto, attempted to evade Secret Service agents and was searching for “entrance points” to access the restricted area around Obama’s home.
Prosecutors indicated that Taranto made several alarming comments while livestreaming outside the residence. He faces misdemeanor charges tied to the January 6 attack but the federal government has requested that he be detained until his trial, despite the nature of the charges.
The government’s detention memo revealed that Taranto shared a post from former President Donald Trump that allegedly provided the Obama residence’s location. On social media, he posted, “We got these losers surrounded! See you in hell, Podesta’s and Obama’s.”
Unlike other misdemeanor defendants from the January 6 Capitol incident, prosecutors argue that Taranto continues to exhibit the same motivations that led him to breach the Capitol.
They noted he has made threats against lawmakers, including an incident where he projected footage of the Capitol attack at a Maryland elementary school, believing it would shock a nearby Congressman he accused of opposing Capitol riot participants.
Taranto reportedly livestreamed his actions at the school, which he chose for its proximity to Representative Jamie Raskin’s home. He deliberately withheld Raskin’s address from viewers, claiming he wanted to confront Raskin alone.
Additionally, Taranto allegedly made threats against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Obama, and former Obama aide John Podesta, stating during a livestream, “Coming at you, McCarthy. Can’t stop what’s coming.”
Prosecutors revealed that Taranto’s lack of a permanent address complicated efforts by law enforcement to locate him. He is also accused of making threats to bomb federal buildings and possesses 20 registered firearms, two of which were in his vehicle at the time of his arrest. The whereabouts of the remaining 18 firearms are currently unknown.
On January 6, Taranto was reportedly involved in the Capitol riot, engaging in altercations while wielding a cane intended as a weapon. In June, he was seen outside the D.C. jail during a protest for January 6 detainees, where he was banned due to his disruptive behavior and erratic actions.
