Not to worry, Trump will pardon him again.
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Judge Weighs Jailing Trump-Pardoned Jan 6 Rioter After Security Scare With Top Dem
David Gilmour
Fri, December 5, 2025
A January 6 Capitol rioter pardoned by President Donald Trump triggered fresh security fears in Washington D.C. after turning up near the home of Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), prompting prosecutors to ask a federal judge to jail him immediately.
Taylor Taranto, convicted this year for threatening federal buildings and carrying weapons in former President Barack Obama’s neighbourhood, resurfaced in the capital despite a court-ordered supervised release. His appearance unnerved authorities who say it mirrors the behaviour that led to his arrest two years ago.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols did not order him taken into custody but warned he would consider the government’s request in the coming weeks. He instructed Taranto to return to Washington state for the holidays and stay away from D.C. until the new year.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Wolf argued Taranto was “on the path” to repeating his past conduct, citing erratic livestreams, worrying social media posts, including one filmed from a Pentagon parking lot, and failures to comply with supervision rules.
Taranto spent two years behind bars before Nichols handed down a conviction but no additional jail time, offering supervised release instead. Now, according to Politico, prosecutors say his return to the capital shows that leniency may have been misplaced.
Taranto’s lawyer, Carmen Hernández, sought time to review the claims and asked that her client be able to spend Christmas with his wife and children. His probation officer, Sean Stallman, opposed immediate incarceration, recommending tighter monitoring of drug use and psychiatric treatment rather than prison.
After swearing he would drive home by midday Friday, Taranto was allowed to leave on his own.
The judge, however, warned that he is “absolutely prepared” to jail him if he violates any orders.
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Police Beg Judge to Jail Pardoned J6er Seen Lurking Near Dem’s House
Isabel van Brugen, Tom Latchem
Fri, December 5, 2025
Police and prosecutors are begging a Trump-appointed federal judge to jail a pardoned Jan. 6 defendant, after he allegedly showed up near Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin’s home.
Taylor Taranto, who made headlines in 2023 when he was arrested near former President Barack Obama’s home with a van loaded with guns, ammunition, and materials to make explosives, has returned to Washington, D.C. He was seen lurking near the Maryland congressman’s house on Tuesday, according to Politico.
Taylor Taranto did not sound optimistic in his last videocast prior to heading into the courtroom. https://t.co/pzuTe6OZMp pic.twitter.com/aP63ScEzxK— M & M Enterprises (@sfoguj) December 4, 2025
The sighting alarmed police and prosecutors, who urged Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols to immediately put him behind bars. The judge said he would consider the matter in the coming weeks and ordered Taranto to return to his home in Washington state for the holidays.
It comes amid a surge in political violence and threats against federal officials, during an especially volatile period that saw last year’s assassination attempt on Trump, the June killing of Democrat Melissa Hortman, and the September murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Jamie Raskin told his colleagues about the alleged incident on Wednesday. / Jemal Countess / Getty Images for MoveOn
Raskin’s security detail was immediately boosted, Axios reported, after police said Taranto appeared near the Democrat’s Takoma Park home early Tuesday.
A House Democrat familiar with the situation told Axios that Raskin briefed colleagues about the alleged encounter on Wednesday. His security was increased shortly afterward, and Capitol Police escorted him home.
Taranto’s lawyer, Carmen Hernández, told Axios that she specifically disputes the claim that he was outside Raskin’s home, while Taranto himself declined to comment on the matter.
The Daily Beast has reached out to Rep. Raskin for comment.
Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. / Samuel Corum / Getty Images
Nichols convicted Taranto earlier this year for the 2023 incident near Obama’s home, but declined to impose more jail time after Taranto spent roughly two years in pretrial detention. Instead, Taranto was placed on supervised release.
On Thursday, Nichols ordered Taranto to drive back to Washington state by noon Friday and barred him from returning to Washington, D.C., until early next year. A probation hearing was set for Dec. 10, and the judge warned he was “absolutely prepared” to jail Taranto if he defied any of his orders.
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