Prosecutors said Wednesday that a man arrested last week for participating in the January 6 attack on the Capitol allegedly targeted former President Barack Obama’s home in Washington, D.C., after former President Donald Trump posted what he claimed was Obama’s address on social media.
Taylor Taranto was arrested last Thursday in the Kalorama neighborhood of D.C. where the Obamas live and charged with four misdemeanor offenses in connection with the January 6 riot. He has not yet been charged over last Thursday’s incident. Taranto had earlier that day reshared Trump’s Truth social media post containing the alleged address of the Obamas, court documents filed on Wednesday stated.
“Taranto used his own Truth Social account to re-post the address. On Telegram, Taranto then stated, ‘We got these losers surrounded! See you in hell, Podesta’s and Obama’s,’” prosecutors wrote in the court documents. “Shortly thereafter, Taranto again began live-streaming from his van on his YouTube channel. This time, Taranto was driving through the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington D.C.,” prosecutors said.
Taranto “made it clear that he intended to access or enter the private residences of his subjects,” the court documents filed said. Secret Service started monitoring Taranto as he parked his van and began walking around the Kalorama neighborhood and filming. Secret Service agents later apprehended him after he tried to flee when they approached.
During a search of Taranto’s van, two firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a machete were found including a mattress and this could mean that he had been living in the van, prosecutors said.
Taranto had been wanted for some time now over his role in the January 6 riot. Authorities intensified their search after he posted a live stream last Wednesday implying that he had intentions of blowing up his car at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Maryland. He also made “ominous comments” about Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
Not too long ago, Taranto and some individuals entered an elementary school near Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin’s home. Taranto began live-streaming the group “walking around the school, entering the gymnasium, and using a projector to display a film related to January 6,” according to the court filing.
Per Wednesday’s court documents, Taranto said he targeted Raskin because “he’s one of the guys that hates January 6 people, or more like Trump supporters, and it’s kind of like sending a shockwave through him because I did nothing wrong and he’s probably freaking out and saying s*** like, ‘Well he’s stalking me.’”
“Taranto further comments, ‘I didn’t tell anyone where he lives ‘cause I want him all to myself,’ and ‘That was Piney Branch Elementary School in Maryland…right next to where Rep. Raskin and his wife live,’” prosecutors said.
