Police in Washington, D.C., arrested a 37-year-old man near former President Barack Obama's house on Thursday, finding weapons, several hundred rounds of ammunition and material for explosive devices in the nearby converted van that doubled as his home, law enforcement sources told multiple news organizations. Secret Service agents spotted the man, identified as Taylor Taranto of Seattle, a few blocks from the Obama residence, then chased him as he fled toward Obama's house, CBS News reported.
Earlier Thursday, "a Truth Social account" believed to be Taranto's "re-posted a Trump post that included what is alleged to be the address of Obama's home in Washington and noted that the home is near a mosque," NBC News reported. "'Got them surrounded!' the Truth Social account wrote."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Taranto was arrested as a fugitive from justice on an "active Jan. 6-related warrant" issued by the Capitol Police, CBS News reported, though he has not been charged in relation to the riot. Taranto has posted videos of himself inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, siege, NBC News said, and he has been camping out of his van near the D.C. jail where many Jan. 6 defendants are being held.
The widow of a D.C. police officer who died by suicide after the riot has sued Taranto and another man, David Walls-Kaufman, who is already serving time for his role in the Jan. 6 siege. Taranto, who is representing himself in the lawsuit, denied handing Walls-Kaufman the pipe or cane he allegedly used to strike the officer on the face.
-
Has ‘poppy politics’ got out of hand?Talking Point ‘Toxic’ debate over red and white poppies is another front in the culture wars
-
Vladimir Putin’s ‘nuclear tsunami’ missileIn The Spotlight Russian president has boasted that there is no way to intercept the new weapon
-
Crossword: November 11, 2025The Week's daily crossword
-
USDA orders states to ‘undo’ full SNAP paymentsSpeed Read The Trump administration is telling states not to pay full November food stamp benefits
-
Senate takes first step to end record shutdownSpeed Read Eight senators in the Democratic caucus voted with Republicans to advance legislation to reopen the government
-
‘This estrangement from death has beget euphemisms’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariffSpeed Read Five Senate Republicans joined the Democrats in rebuking Trump’s import tax
-
Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICESpeed Read Half of the new ICE directors are reportedly from DHS’s more aggressive Customs and Border Protection branch
-
Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff
-
Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
