Did a man arrested on the grounds of Donald Trump's golf course in Southern California plot to kill the president? If so, why did it take two full days for the story to break?
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies took the man into custody on Sunday afternoon, later identified as Jeanine John Taele of nearby Downey. Federal agents spotted Taele stalking the course without actually playing golf, instead taking photos and videos with special attention to security preparations for an expected Trump visit. It's not clear why those federal agents didn't detain Taele first, but local law enforcement arrested him without incident:
An armed suspect was arrested late Sunday afternoon at Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes just days before the President Donald Trump’s fundraiser set to be held there, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday.
The man, identified as 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele, was observed by plainclothes federal agents taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activity. Once he was detained in a parking lot on the golf course, deputies found a 16-round magazine in his pocket, the advisory from the sheriff’s department said. In a subsequent search of his car, investigators said, they also recovered a loaded pistol and an additional loaded magazine.
Sheriff’s detectives and FBI agents executed a search on his home in the Southern California city of Downey on Monday, where they said they found more firearms, ammunition, body armor, multiple notebooks containing “concerning statements” and two radio signal devices.
The arrest may not have made news at the time because investigators needed more information about Taele's intentions. Until they could execute a search warrant, all they had was a prowler carrying a prohibited weapon. Their search apparently paid off with evidence of crimes, but perhaps not an assassination plot – yet:
Taele was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of prohibited ammunition.
The Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) obtained and executed a search warrant at Taele’s home in Downey Monday.
Deputies discovered an illegally modified AR platform rifle, two radio signal devices, a 1911 .45 caliber pistol, an AR platform upper receiver, body armor, high-capacity magazines, bulk pistol and rifle ammunition, and multiple notebooks containing concerning statements during the search of his home.
He was charged with the following crimes Tuesday:
- Manufacturing, importing, keeping for sale, giving or receiving a large-capacity magazine
- Carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle
- Possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun
- Second degree robbery, in connection to the 2025 robbery.
Reportedly, investigators found journals with "concerning" content, but have not charged Taele with attempted murder or any related charge so far. Taele's bail is only set for $250,000, meaning he can bond out by putting up $25,000 in cash or assets, depending on what the bond service will accept. That's not the end of the story on Taele's detention, however, as we'll discuss in a moment.
This explains why it took two days for the story to break. Prosecutors likely delayed Taele's arraignment to the full 48 hours required by California state law (although weekends usually allow for an extension). That allowed investigators to conduct the search and develop any potential evidence for federal charges without drawing attention to a potential assassination attempt that may have had more people than Taele involved. His public arraignment required disclosure, but they already have all they will get from Taele's home and likely from Taele himself.
The Secret Service and the local US Attorney are taking a very close look at Taele:
The Sheriff’s Department said detectives assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force later searched Taele’s home in Downey, Calif., on Monday, where they found an “illegally modified” AR-platform rifle, a pistol, ammunition, body armor and magazines, and two radio signal devices. The Sheriff’s Department added they also found multiple notebooks containing what they described as “concerning statements,” though they did not elaborate on what those were.
An unnamed federal law enforcement source told CNN that the Secret Service is looking into whether the person posed a threat to Trump.
“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President’s visit,” First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said in the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release. “Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing.”
Taele will appear today in federal court, as the charge for possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle or shotgun is a federal crime, as Time Magazine goes on to specify. Taele faces a possible ten-year prison sentence on that charge alone. The federal arraignment will result in a potentially separate and more severe bail threshold for Taele, which means even if he could meet the state's bail of $250K, he may not see the outside of a detention facility for a long time to come. The federal charge also applies more leverage to get Taele to cooperate with investigators if others are involved in a plot, and the discovery of "radio devices" may indicate some kind of coordinated attack had been planned. Or it may just indicate that Taele was obsessing over Trump all on his own.
The fundraiser went off without a hitch in the end, although the usual demonstrations took place. Some pushing and shoving between supporters and opponents took place, but apparently only amounted to "dozens," according to the local Fox affiliate. If there were a coordinated attack plot, Taele's arrest may have derailed it, or perhaps Taele was acting alone – if indeed this was an assassination plot.
We'll know soon enough, although the answer may have to wait for a federal grand jury. Right now, it certainly sounds as though Taele was doing recon on Sunday for Trump's visit yesterday. Next time, maybe he should get a tee time first and bring a few clubs.
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