- Taele returned on 2 August, two days before Trump's scheduled visit for an RNC fundraising dinner, and approached federal agents claiming state department employment and that he was there for a security detail.
- He was charged federally with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle found at his home, with the rifle described as an illegally modified AR-style rifle with a barrel cut down to 10in from 14in.
Federal investigators arrested an armed man at President Trump9s Los Angeles-area golf course ahead of a presidential visit, and a Downey home tied to the suspect yielded an illegally modified AR-style rifle with a shortened 10in barrel (down from 14in) plus a cache of other weapons.
The seized items included a loaded 9mm pistol, body armor and a badge reading csecurity protection agentd, authorities said, along with a .45-caliber pistol and other gear found at the residence, underscoring the breadth of the threat investigators described. Notebooks containing cconcerning statementsd were also recovered, according to law enforcement officials.
Taele, 38, was first observed near the golf grounds on July 31, wearing an earpiece and filming security personnel, and returned August 2—two days before Trump9s planned resort visit for an RNC fundraising dinner. He reportedly claimed to be with the state department and to be there for a security detail, and deputies detained him for csuspiciousd behavior after finding a loaded magazine in his pocket.12
The federal complaint charges Taele with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle and, separately, two felony counts for possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun and for manufacture, importation or sale of a large-capacity magazine. Court records also show a misdemeanor for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle.
Trump commented to Fox News that conly consequential presidentsd are targeted and that he is cd definitely consequentiald, a remark that authorities say highlights ongoing security concerns around his travel.
In a statement, FBI Los Angeles assistant director Patrick Grandy emphasized the seriousness of the case: cThere is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump9s lifed.
“Taele returned on 2 August, two days before Trump's scheduled RNC fundraiser, and claimed to be on a state department security detail. The rifle, an illegally modified AR-style with a barrel cut to 10 inches, was seized from his home.”
The Guardian
