Taylor Taranto, identified in 2021 by online detectives and arrested in June 2023 near Barack Obama’s Washington residence, faces five new charges. This follows a summer incident after Donald Trump shared a post revealing Obama’s address.
Arrest Near Obama Residence
Three charges are linked to firearms and ammunition found in Taranto’s van at arrest. He’s also charged with obstructing an official proceeding on Jan. 6 and falsely threatening an explosion at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Additionally, Taranto and David Walls-Kaufman were sued by Officer Jeffrey Smith’s widow, whose death followed the Capitol attack.
New Evidence Surfaces
In the lawsuit filed by Officer Smith’s widow, Taylor Taranto and David Walls-Kaufman are accused of contributing to Smith’s death during the Capitol riot.
Videos in the suit show Taranto wielding a weaponized cane near Smith amid a clash with officers.
Tracing the Tragic Chain
Smith’s camera footage, unveiled through the lawsuit, captures him being struck by a metal object in a separate incident, occurring hours after his encounter with Taranto and Walls-Kaufman in the Capitol.
Obama Home Incident
Taranto, arrested outside Obama’s home in June 2023, also attended Walls-Kaufman’s January 6 sentencing that month. Walls-Kaufman, who confessed to scuffling with officers but wasn’t charged with assault, served 60 days in prison and was released in September.
The civil case against both men is ongoing.
Detained and Awaiting Trial
Currently detained until his July trial, Taylor Taranto was active near the Washington jail housing Jan. 6 detainees, as seen in livestreams. The government states Taranto traveled to Washington following then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s proposal to release Jan. 6 footage.
Trump’s Post Sparks Controversy
His arrest followed a Trump post on Truth Social, revealing Obama’s home address on June 29, 2023, which Taranto shared on his account.
‘See you in hell’
Prosecutors also highlight Taranto’s Telegram message: “We got these losers surrounded! See you in hell, Podesta’s and Obama’s.”
Military Member Arrested
Taylor Taranto, a former military member, was arrested near Rock Creek Parkway after broadcasting live from the woods close to Obama’s residence.
Mental Health Concerns
Despite his history of mental health treatment through the Veterans Affairs Department, Judge Carl Nichols deemed the treatment plans inadequate due to Taranto’s increasingly concerning behavior.
Over 900 Convictions
Over 1,250 individuals have been charged for the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, with prosecutors securing over 900 convictions.
Notably, hundreds of these individuals remain unidentified or unarrested.
New Gunfire Footage Emerges
Recent footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot reveals a man, identified by NBC News two years earlier, firing a gun into the air.
Past footage from the riot showed him with a suspected firearm in his waistband.
FBI’s Capitol Violence List
This individual, named John Emanuel Banuelos in NBC’s report, is also listed as suspect number 200 on the FBI’s Capitol Violence page, where he’s been featured for three years.
Admitting Capitol Presence
Banuelos, who acknowledged his presence at the Capitol to Salt Lake City police, as per a police transcript, is quoted saying, “I was in the D.C. riots… I’m the one in the video with the gun right here.”
Uncharged Rioter
Despite this, Banuelos hasn’t been charged for the Jan. 6 event; he was arrested by Salt Lake City police for the unrelated fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Christopher Thomas Senn in July 2021.
To Surrender or Not?
John Emanuel Banuelos, during his interaction with Salt Lake City police, pondered aloud in a police transcript, “Man, should I just tell the FBI to come get me or what?” He later contacted a police investigator, discussing his actions at the Capitol, saying he went where “Donald Trump sent him.”
Yet, the Salt Lake City DA’s office didn’t prosecute Banuelos, who claimed self-defense in the death of Christopher Senn.
Discharging a Firearm
Newly released footage by a fellow Jan. 6 rioter seems to show Banuelos discharging his firearm twice amidst the chaos on the Capitol’s west side.
Online investigators also brought to light Capitol Police surveillance footage, previously part of another case, where Banuelos is seen firing the gun.
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