Judge considers releasing an alleged Jan. 6 rioter arrested near Obama’s home

Federal prosecutors are contemplating new charges against Taylor Franklin Taranto, an accused January 6 Capitol rioter arrested near former President Barack Obama’s residence, who livestreamed threats against prominent Washington D.C. figures and locations.

Case backdrop: Taranto, a US Navy veteran, faces four misdemeanor charges, including knowingly entering the US Capitol and engaging in disorderly conduct during the riot.
* Prosecutors believe Taranto to be a flight risk due to living in a van, fitted with a machete, two firearms and hundreds of ammunition rounds.
* He is now under consideration for additional charges following livestreamed threats against a Democratic Congressman, a federal research facility, and the House speaker.

Defendant’s behavior: Taranto has been a regular attendant at a protest site near the D.C. Jail where supporters of accused rioters gather, and allegedly distributed threats via his YouTube channel.
* After former President Trump allegedly posted Obama’s address online, Taranto reposted the address and was subsequently arrested near the location.
* Prosecutors reported that Taranto’s wife indicated he had moved to D.C. in response to House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy’s proposed release of video footage from the January 6 Capitol riot.

Legal outlook: The decision regarding the prosecution’s request to hold Taranto in custody pending trial is pending a July 12 hearing by U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui.
* Taranto’s public defender, Kathryn D’Adamo Guevara, argued that Taranto has “zero criminal history”, a stable family home in Washington state, and existing mental health service connections.
* It remains unclear when prosecutors might add new charges or how serious they might be.

View original article on NPR

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