Prosecutors Say Defendant Jan. 6 Targeted Obama’s DC Home After Trump Posted His Address on Truth Social

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Prosecutors said a defendant began live streaming on Jan. 6 outside Obama’s alleged DC residence before his arrest. Taylor Taranto was later arrested in Obama’s neighborhood after a brief foot chase. Prosecutors said Taranto re-shared Obama’s purported address from a Trump post. Loading Something is loading.

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Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that a defendant began live streaming on Jan. 6 near the alleged private DC residence of former President Barack Obama after he reposted an address shared by former President Donald Trump.

According to prosecutors, Taylor Taranto re-shared Trump’s post on his own Truth social account.

Trump shared Obama’s purported address in a post republishing a 2017 newsletter by the late-conservative Phyllis Schlafly about Trump’s first 100 days in office. The newsletter complained about a “shadow” government in DC, highlighting that the Obamas decided to stay in Washington after leaving the White House.

As of Wednesday, Trump’s post remained accessible.

After Trump shared that post, Taranto began live streaming as he drove through the affluent Kalorama neighborhood of Washington DC

Prosecutors then said Taranto posted on his Telegram, “We have these losers surrounded! See you in hell, Podesta’s and Obama’s [sic].”

After a brief foot chase, he was taken into custody. New details of his actions leading up to his arrest came in a court motion to keep Taranto in custody without bond, pending trial. He already faces misdemeanor charges related to his alleged actions on Jan. 6. Prosecutors have indicated that additional charges may be filed.

In his live stream, Taranto focused on the sewer grates, saying they were called “entrances.” He then speculated about how he could gain access to the alleged homes of Obama and former White House chief of staff John Podesta.

“We’re gonna find a way to the tunnels, underneath their houses …,” prosecutors quoted him as saying.

Taranto said he would “stop at nothing to get the shot.”

Prosecutors say Taranto has been on their radar since he was identified as a participant in the Capitol riots on Jan. 6. He has also repeatedly talked about his actions, once posting that he wanted to be reported to federal authorities. authority.

“Look, Mom! I’m an insurrectionist now and on TV!” He said Taranto wrote in another post.

However, federal law enforcement could not find him. They thought he was still at a residence in Pasco in Washington State before public posts appeared that he had moved to Washington, DC, and was living in a van near the DC jail where the defendants were being held on January 6.

Taranto moved to the nation’s capitol following House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s promise to provide access to internal congressional footage of the January 6 riot to the defendants, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also wrote that it appears Taranto called McCarthy’s office to request access to the footage.

Before targeting the Obamas, prosecutors also said Taranto threatened Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, is the lead agent in Trump’s second impeachment for inciting unrest in the Capitol.

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