Jeanine John Taele Arrested for Monitoring Security at Trump National Golf Club Before Presidential Visit
Jeanine John Taele was arrested on Sunday at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes after federal agents identified him as a suspicious person monitoring security-planning activities. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that Taele was observed taking photographs and videos of the grounds while wearing an earpiece. Although he claimed to be a security detail worker for the State Department, deputies found a loaded magazine with hollow-point bullets in his pocket and a loaded pistol in his vehicle. Following the arrest, a search of Taele’s home in Downey revealed an illegally modified AR-style rifle, body armor, and notebooks containing "concerning statements." He faces state charges for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of prohibited ammunition, as with well as a federal felony charge for possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, which carries a 10-year maximum sentence. President Trump noted the incident occurred just before his scheduled visit to the resort. The Secret Service and FBI are currently investigating the motives behind Taele's actions.