Feds: Heavily Armed Suspect Busted Near Obama’s House Got The Address From Trump Social Media Post

According to a court filing, the individual accused of participating in the Capitol riot and found in possession of a frightening assortment of weapons near Barack Obama’s residence obtained the address from Donald Trump, the former president who succeeded Obama.

Federal prosecutors emphasized this apparent connection while arguing for the detention of the homeless suspect, Taylor Taranto, until the trial. The court document stated, “On June 29, 2023, Former President Donald Trump shared what he claimed to be Former President Barack Obama’s address on the social media platform Truth Social.”

The filing did not provide further details about the post, which was a reshare of a 2017 article that remains linked on Trump’s social media page as of early Thursday. Taranto then “used his own Truth Social account to repost the address,” according to the court document.

Subsequently, on Telegram, Taranto made a statement that said, “We got these losers surrounded! See you in hell,” mentioning the Obamas and former adviser John Podesta. Shortly after this post, Taranto began livestreaming from his van while driving through Washington D.C.’s Kalorama neighborhood, which contains heavily protected restricted areas monitored by the Secret Service.

The filing mentioned that during the livestream, Taranto’s ongoing narration indicated his intent to access or enter the private residences of his targets. Prosecutors also cited additional concerning statements made by Taranto, quoting him as boasting about plans to “get the shot.” According to the document, he stated, “We’re gonna see what we can get, as a shot. If I were them, I’d be watching this, watching my every move.”

Uniformed Secret Service agents immediately started surveilling him and apprehended him as he attempted to flee, although it was unclear at the time if the Obamas were home. Agents then discovered Taranto’s Chevrolet van, in which he appeared to be living, parked nearby. The van contained two firearms, 400 rounds of ammunition, and a machete. At least 18 other firearms registered under his name have yet to be located.

“Evidence related to Taranto’s involvement in the January 6 breach of the Capitol was also recovered,” stated the prosecutors, including a hat identical to the one he was seen wearing in footage at the entrance. The filing indicated that Taranto had been among the rioters near Ashli Babbitt when she was fatally shot and had engaged in altercations with law enforcement.

Due to these circumstances, the FBI had already been monitoring Taranto’s online activities and had issued an arrest warrant just hours before his arrest near Obama’s residence. The document noted that the warrant was related to a livestream in which he threatened to detonate the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland, as well as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Allegedly, Taranto stated that he was “just going one way for this mission, to [purgatory].”

Taranto has not yet entered a plea in court, and no comment from his attorney was immediately available.

{Matzav.com}