Former Jan. 6 Defendant Convicted on Gun Charges

Taylor Taranto, a former defendant from the January 6 Capitol riot, is convicted of illegally possessing guns and ammunition after showing up at former President Barack Obama’s residence in June 2023. During a livestream from outside Obama’s home, Taranto claimed he was on a “one-way mission” to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, leading to charges that include making false statements in addition to the firearms offenses.

Prosecutors recovered two guns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a machete from Taranto’s vehicle at the time of his arrest. His attorney criticized the verdict as an infringement on free speech, arguing that Taranto, an honorably discharged military veteran with no prior offenses, merely made a misguided joke. The ruling follows a bench trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols.

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