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Russ Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Russell Taylor |
| Known for | January 6 United States Capitol attack |
Russell Taylor is an American convicted criminal who took part in the United States Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Career and politics
[edit]January 6 United States Capitol attack
[edit]Preparations
[edit]Alan Hostetter and Taylor used a Telegram group chat named "California Patriots - Answer the Call Jan. 6",[1][2] and Taylor organised another group chat of 35 members named "California Patriots-DC Brigade" which was used to plan ahead for January 6.[2] At a protest on January 5 outside the Supreme Court Building he said; "we will fight and we will bleed before we allow our freedoms to be taken from us."[2]
Capitol attack
[edit]Taylor attended the "Stop the Steal" rally, where he met up with Hostetter and others in the group. He was denied entry into the Ellipse by the Secret Service; he wore a black-plate carrier vest body armor, had a knife in his vest pocket and carried a stun baton in his backpack.[2]
He made his way to the Capitol after Donald Trump's speech, and moved with the mob onto the Capitol's West Terrace, where he took a photo with Taylor.[3] On the Upper West Terrace, he directed some insurrectionists into the Capitol and warned police to "move back". He himself did not enter the building.[2]
Arrest and trial
[edit]He was indicted on June 9, 2021[2] alongside the five other 'DC Brigade' members; Alan Hostetter, Eric Scott Warner, Felipe Antonio Martinez, Derek Kinnison, and Ronald Mele.[4][5] He was arrested in Orange, California the next day.[2] Taylor himself pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, leading to the other charges against him, including unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on capitol grounds and in buildings, being dropped.[2]
Taylor testified for the government at Hostetter's trial,[2] leading Hostetter to believe that Taylor had been part of a "false flag" operation by government informants.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Weiner, Rachel (December 11, 2023). "Police chief turned yoga teacher sentenced for role in Jan. 6 attack". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Fry, Hannah (December 7, 2023). "Former La Habra police chief sentenced to more than 11 years for role in Jan. 6 riot". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ Dreisbach, Tom (July 7, 2021). "What Led A Police Chief Turned Yoga Instructor To The Capitol Riot?". NPR. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Kunzelman, Michael (July 13, 2023). "Former police chief who defended himself at trial is convicted of conspiracy in Jan. 6 riot". AP News. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ Campa, Andrew J (April 20, 2023). "Jan. 6 insurrectionist from O.C. worked to create hatchet-wielding band of 'fighters,' faces 20 years". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ Dreisbach, Tom; Van Woerkom, Barbara (December 7, 2023). "Former police chief turned yoga teacher sentenced to 11 years over Jan. 6 riot". NPR. Retrieved December 18, 2023.