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.
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]
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]
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]