A California man pleaded guilty to a crime participation in the January 6 attack The US Capitol released a letter Wednesday saying a retired Republican congressman personally invited him to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Russell Taylor, who prosecutors described as the “leader” of organizing a “group of fighters” to travel to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, to block Congress from certifying Trump’s 2020 election loss, filed a letter of resignation. Republican Rep. Chris Stewart in a request to the judge overseeing his case to approve a trip to the nation’s capital.
Rep. Chris Stewart takes his seat before the start of a hearing on the ‘Federal Government Armaments Act’ on February 9, 2023 in Washington, DC.
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Stewart makes no direct reference to Taylor’s involvement in the Capitol attack in the letter, instead describing him as “a man of integrity and faith who served those less fortunate.”
“Russ’s passion for what is right and good is reflected in his desire to lift others up,” Stewart said.
However, prosecutors described him as leading “not just by word, but by action” before the Capitol attack, according to his case documents. Taylor “repeatedly called for violence and a show of force” to cancel the election and move on on January 6 itselfhe led a mob that broke through the police line near the opening stage, wearing “an exposed knife and bear spray over a bulletproof chest plate,” according to his sentencing notes.
Trump supporters take the steps of the Capitol as Congress works to verify electoral college votes, Jan. 6, 2021.
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Taylor received the nod from the judge overseeing his case, Royce Lamberth, for agreeing to a plea deal with prosecutors who helped convict one of his co-conspirators. Lamberth declined a request by prosecutors to sentence him to no more than four years in prison and instead sentenced him to six months of house arrest and probation.
“Counsel maintains that Mr. Taylor poses no risk or concern for this travel request,” Taylor’s attorneys said in a letter to Lamberth on Wednesday. “He is traveling with his family, including minor children. He is a guest of a former member of Congress, and has proven time and time again that he is reliable in his travel and in compliance with Court Orders. We hereby request that he be permitted to travel to Washington, DC January 16-21, 2025.”
