Accused Jan. 6 rioter caught lurking around Obama's house had an arsenal at the ready

In addition to guns and ammunition, he was also in possession of a machete at the time of his arrest

By Kelly McClure

Nights & Weekends Editor

Published June 30, 2023 6:48PM (EDT)

Former U.S. President Barack Obama participates in a rally in support of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 2022.  (ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)
Former U.S. President Barack Obama participates in a rally in support of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 2022. (ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

Taylor Taranto, the 37-year-old accused Jan. 6 rioter apprehended near the home of former President Barack Obama on Thursday, had several weapons and a slew of ammunition with him, according to recent updates.

Per a report given by federal authorities on Friday, Obama's would-be attacker "had two guns and 400 rounds of ammunition in his van when he was arrested," as well as a machete. 

According to NBC News, "Taranto's van has been parked near the D.C. jail in recent weeks and he has appeared at protests in support of other Jan. 6 defendants . . . Noting that he lived in the van, a federal prosecutor said Taranto had 'nowhere to go.'"

In a statement from a federal prosecutor, Taranto, a known Trump supporter, "has been in Washington to take House Speaker Kevin McCarthy up on his offer of letting Jan. 6 defendants review security footage of the Capitol riot relevant to their cases.

"We got these losers surrounded!" he wrote on Telegram prior to being arrested. "See you in hell, Podesta's and Obama's!"


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Per NBC's reporting, "Taranto showed up at Obama's residence on Thursday after former President Donald Trump posted screenshots on his Truth Social platform that featured a purported address for Obama's home in Washington. Taranto's account reposted Trump's post."

He is currently up against four misdemeanor counts in connection with Jan. 6 and is being held in custody until a detention hearing can be had next week. 


By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Nights and Weekends Editor covering daily news, politics and culture. Her work has also appeared in Vulture, Vanity Fair, Vice and many other outlets that don't start with the letter V. She is the author of one sad book called "Something Is Always Happening Somewhere." Follow her on Bluesky: @WolfieVibes

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Barack Obama Brief Donald Trump January 6 Politics Taylor Taranto