The armed man accused of scouting President Trump’s Southern California golf membership earlier than the commander in chief’s go to was a embellished former US Marine who accomplished fight deployments to each Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, served within the Marine Corps from March 2008 till March 2016, reaching the rank of corporal whereas assigned as a warehouse clerk with the elite 1st Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Pendleton, in line with army data obtained by the California Put up.
Taele deployed to Iraq from October 2008 by March 2009, and later served in Afghanistan from June by December 2010, data present.
His army file reveals he earned two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, awarded for repeated durations of honorable and disciplined service, together with a Navy Unit Commendation recognizing distinctive efficiency by his unit.
He additionally obtained the Nationwide Protection Service Medal for serving throughout the post-Sept. 11 World Battle on Terror period, the World Battle on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Marketing campaign Medal and Afghanistan Marketing campaign Medal for his abroad deployments, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons recognizing prolonged abroad assignments, and the NATO Worldwide Safety Help Power Medal for supporting the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan.
Taele now faces federal costs after authorities say they discovered him armed at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes simply days earlier than the president’s Aug. 4 fundraising go to on the location.
He was charged in a federal legal grievance with possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony carrying a most sentence of 10 years in jail.
Brokers conducting advance safety planning noticed Taele on July 31 strolling across the golf course and sporting an earpiece whereas photographing and filming safety preparations, in line with federal prosecutors.
He allegedly returned to the membership on Aug. 2, the place he falsely claimed he labored for the State Division on a safety element and admitted he had a loaded firearm in his pickup truck.
Deputies responding to the scene additionally found Taele was wished in an unrelated theft case out of El Segundo. Authorities recovered a loaded 9mm pistol, hollow-point ammunition, binoculars and a badge labeled “safety safety agent” from his truck, prosecutors mentioned.
A subsequent search of his dwelling uncovered what investigators described as an illegally modified AR-platform rifle, further firearms, physique armor, high-capacity magazines, communications tools and notebooks containing regarding statements.
“Whereas we’re nonetheless investigating the motives of this particular person, we’re grateful he was apprehended earlier than the President’s go to,” First Assistant US Lawyer Invoice Essayli mentioned in asserting the federal costs. “Federal and native regulation enforcement stepped in early and prevented what may have been a harmful scenario from occurring. This investigation stays ongoing.”
FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Cost Patrick Grandy mentioned Taele’s conduct “raised severe pink flags.”
“There isn’t any room for error, significantly in mild of earlier makes an attempt on President Trump’s life, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Process Power, working with our companions on the U.S. Secret Service, the ATF, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division, will examine this case totally,” Grandy mentioned.
President Trump later downplayed the incident throughout an interview with Fox Information.
“The one factor I get just a little solace from is they are saying solely consequential presidents, and I’m positively consequential,” Trump mentioned. “I’ve no selection,” he added whereas pivoting to debate Iran. “They will’t have a nuclear weapon.”
Taele additionally faces state firearms costs in Los Angeles Superior Court docket along with the pending federal case.
