Man with guns arrested near Obama home ‘attempted to evade’ Secret Service: Prosecutors

The January 6 defendant was arrested near Washington, DC, the hometown of former President Barack Obama, last week tried to evade the Secret Service and was looking for “entry points” along the street to enter the area. ban, court documents filed by prosecutors on Wednesday said.

Taylor Taranto allegedly made “several relevant statements” while live-streaming outside the Obama home, prosecutors said in a memo ahead of a Taranto detention hearing originally set for Tuesday. Wednesday afternoon. (The hearing was later rescheduled.)

Taranto is facing misdemeanor charges related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, but despite the lower-level charges, the federal government has requested detention him while awaiting trial.

In the custody memo, the government also alleges Taranto retweeted a post by former President Donald Trump citing the alleged location of the Obamas.

“On June 29, 2023, Former President Donald Trump posted what he claimed to be the address of Former President Barack Obama on the social networking platform Truth Social. Taranto used his own Truth Social account. to repost that address,” the government said.

“On Telegram, Taranto later declared, ‘We’ve surrounded these losers! See you in hell, Podesta’s and Obama’s,” according to prosecutors.

“Taranto is different from other misdemeanor defendants charged with participating in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol,” the detention memo filed by federal prosecutors said. “Taranto has continued to act on the same motives that prompted him to break into the Capitol by communicating threats to legislators who oppose his views. He has attempted to demonstrate threats. threatened it by breaking into an elementary school where he showed footage of the January 6 attack because of his impression that the conduct would transmit a ‘shockwave’ to a resident member of Congress. nearby, doing so because he believes the congressman ‘hates’ those involved in the Capitol riots.”

Federal prosecutors allege that Taranto used his YouTube channel to live stream at a Maryland elementary school, where he, among other things, walked around the school, went to the gym and use the movie projector to show a movie related to January 6.

He said he chose the school because it was close to the home of Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat on the previous January 6 committee of the House and a leading Trump critic, but said he He didn’t tell viewers where Raskin lived because he wanted Raskin “to be myself,” prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also allege that Taranto threatened House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, former President Obama and former Obama aide and current Biden White House official, John Podesta.

“To you McCarthy. Can’t stop what’s coming. Nothing can stop what’s coming,” he allegedly said during a live stream.

Taranto’s lack of address frustrated law enforcement when trying to locate and arrest him.

Prosecutors also said he made several threats to blow up federal buildings.

Taranto has 20 registered firearms and two were with him in his car when authorities searched his car after he was arrested last week, they said.

“So far, the remaining 18 guns are the majority; law enforcement has no right to keep those guns nor know their whereabouts,” the custody memo said.

Tartanto allegedly entered the Capitol on January 6 and fought other rioters using a purported stick, which prosecutors say was clearly intended to be used as a weapon. gas.

In June, according to prosecutors, he was also outside the DC prison, in what’s known as “Freedom Corner,” an area for supporters of those arrested in the June 6 riots. January to protest their detention.

“Taranto has been banned from the area due to his offensive behavior towards other protesters,” the court document said. “There are also reports that he has erratic expressions … and incoherent behavior.”

ABC News’ Quinn Owen contributed to this report.