USA05 August, 20262 min read
Jeanine John Taele Arrested With Ammo After Monitoring Security at Trump National Golf Club
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38-year-old Jeanine Taele of Downey arrested at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles. Investigators say he carried ammunition and had a gun in his vehicle.
8 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on White House Officials Question How Long Katie Zacharia Will Stay Press Secretary After First Briefing →
Arrest Before Trump Visit
Authorities arrested Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, California, at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes after federal agents noticed him taking photos and videos and “appearing to monitor security-planning activities” as security teams prepared for President Donald Trump’s visit.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Taele was seen walking through the golf course grounds on Friday, July 31, and then left before returning on Sunday, Aug. 2, when staff notified federal agents during their security assessment.
Investigators found a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition in Taele’s pocket and recovered a loaded pistol with ammunition in the chamber from his vehicle in the golf course parking lot.
Federal and local law enforcement searched Taele’s home in Downey on Monday, Aug. 3, and found additional firearms, including an illegally modified AR-platform rifle and a 1911 .45-caliber pistol, along with body armor, high-capacity magazines, and notebooks containing “concerning statements.”
Charges, Court, and Red Flags
Taele was facing both state and federal charges, including possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, and ABC7 Los Angeles said he was expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said, “While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President’s visit,” as prosecutors moved forward with the case.
The AP reported that Taele was charged with several felonies including second-degree robbery, receiving a large-capacity magazine, and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun, and it said he also faced a misdemeanor for carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.
The AP also quoted Patrick Grandy, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, saying, “There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life.”
Security Assessment and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities announced the arrest as Trump was preparing to arrive for a Republican National Committee dinner at the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes on Tuesday, and the AP said federal agents conducted a security assessment at the course on Friday. The AP described Taele as taking photos and video while wearing an earpiece and approaching federal agents after returning to the course Sunday, when he stated he was employed by the State Department and was there for a security detail.
In a statement, the FBI’s Los Angeles office said Taele’s “troubling behavior at the President’s public golf course merely days before the President was expected to arrive raised serious red flags for law enforcement,” while the sheriff’s department said there is “no credible threat to our communities.” The investigation remained active as law enforcement searched Taele’s home and reviewed seized material, with the AP noting that no details about the notebooks’ “concerning statements” were released and that Taele pleaded not guilty and was ordered to stay away from the golf course and not possess weapons.