Wanted January 6 Rioter Arrested Near Barack Obama’s Washington DC Home, Was Heavily Armed With Explosives and Weapons

A January 6 rioter known for spreading conspiracy theories has been arrested near the home of former president Barack Obama in Washington DC. He was identified as 37-year-old Taylor Taranto, who is not only wanted for participating in the January 6 Capitol insurrection but is also being sued by the widow of one of the police officers who died after the riot incited by former President Donald Trump.

Online sleuths identified Taranto back in August 2021. He was one of the people who assaulted MPD Officer Jeffrey Smith on January 6, leading to the officer committing suicide, according to NBC News. The deceased officer's widow sued him and co-defendant David Walls-Kaufman.

Reports say that Taranto had been living inside a van near the D.C. jailhouse and had openly been wondering why he had not been arrested over January 6 yet, as he has posted a video of himself participating in the riot. However, the Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that he had been arrested under an outstanding arrest warrant.

When he was arrested, officers found materials to make explosives and other weapons inside his vehicle, which was located near the Barack Obama home. An explosives disposal team was called in and conducted a sweep of his van soon after he was arrested.

NBC News recently reviewed Taranto's Telegram account and found that he posted a link to a website touting conspiracy theories about the Obamas' home. On Truth Social, he re-posted an alleged address of the ex-POTUS's home and noted it was near a mosque.

"Got them surrounded!" he wrote.

Authorities say he had plans to blow up the former president's Washington, DC home.

January 6 Rioter Sentenced for Using a Stun Gun on a Police Officer

Taranto's arrest came a week after another January 6 rioter was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his participation in the insurrection, as well as assaulting a police officer.

According to ABC News, January 6 rioter Daniel Joseph Rodriguez pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts this year. He also admitted to attacking then-Metropolitan Police Department officer Michael Fanone with a stun gun. This resulted in him receiving a sentence of over 12 years imprisonment.

Ss he was taken from the courtroom, Rodriguez yelled, "Trump won!" Like many January 6 rioters, he was one of the people who believe ex-President Trump won the election, though recounts and court cases say otherwise.

Convicted January 6 Rioter Says Donald Trump is Misusing Her Story

While many January 6 rioters still believe Trump's "Big Lie," a few are pushing back against him. One of them is 69-year-old Pam Hemphill, who was convicted for participating in the riot. She told the ex-president to stop using her story for his political purposes.

A Truth Social post from Donald Trump claimed that Hemphill will spend more time in jail than Hunter Biden, who received a reduced sentence after a plea deal. However, the grandmother responded to Trump, "Please @realDonaldTrump don't be using me for anything, I'm not a victim of Jan6, I pleaded guilty because I was guilty! #StopTheSpin," she wrote in response to the Truth Social post, according to Yahoo! News.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Man with weapons, explosives arrested near Obama's D.C. home, sources say - CBS Evening News