June 30th 2023.
On Thursday, Taylor Taranto, a man identified as part of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, was arrested in the DC neighborhood of former President Barack Obama. Taranto was apprehended by the Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement and is facing a fugitive to justice charge.
The arresting officers requested the MPD's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team to search Taranto's van near the location of the arrest. No active threat to the community was detected and the incident is still under investigation.
The van was searched on the spot and firearms and materials to construct Molotov cocktails were found. However, no direct threat to the Obamas was determined by the officials. The US Capitol Police also joined in the effort to arrest Taranto, due to concern for public safety and potential violence against members of Congress.
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is conducting a more thorough investigation into Taranto’s activities. The 37-year-old had been posting veiled threats to the right-wing social media site Truth Social, referencing the location of the Obama's DC residence.
Taranto is also a defendant in a civil suit filed by the widow of former MPD officer Jeffrey Smith, who died by suicide in the days following the attack. The lawsuit alleges that Taranto and David Walls-Kaufman were involved in a brutal attack against Smith on the day of the riots. Both men have denied involvement, although they do admit to being present.
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