Washington According to a court decision issued Friday, a judge denied a Jan. 6 defendant’s plea to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration after the man received an invitation from a former member of Congress.
Russell Taylor, the defendant, was charged with planning a group of “fighters” to fly to Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. He then cooperated with the authorities by testifying against the Three Percenters militia after entering a guilty plea to hindering an official procedure in 2023.
“The particular nature and severity of Mr. Taylor’s conduct at the Capitol Riots counsel against giving him the permission to travel that he now seeks,” U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth stated in an order issued Friday, citing a litany of Taylor’s acts both before and during the Capitol attack.
“To attend the Presidential Inauguration, which celebrates and honors the peaceful transfer of power, is an immense privilege,” Lamberth stated.
“It would not be appropriate for the Court to grant permission to attend such a hallowed event to someone who carried weapons and threatened police officers in an attempt to thwart the last Inauguration, and who openly glorified ‘[i]nsurrection’ against the United States,” he stated.
Dyke E. Huish, Taylor’s lawyer, stated that although Taylor was “disappointed,” he had the “utmost respect” for the judge and his rulings when contacted for comment.
Lamberth “has continued to treat my client with respect and given him fair consideration,” according to a statement released by Huish. “While this ruling is disappointing, as my client is a huge supporter of president elect Trump, he does understand the court denial of his request.”
Huish further stated that they do not intend to challenge the judge’s ruling and that Taylor will watch the inauguration on television at home.
A representative for the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office cited earlier filings by prosecutors. Taylor’s request to visit D.C. was denied by the office in a December motion, which urged the court to “not look past his criminal conduct the last time he was on Capitol grounds.”
Although he did not name which politicians were sending the invitation, former Utah Representative Chris Stewart, R-Utah, claimed in a December letter to the judge that he and three other members of the Utah congressional delegation were inviting Taylor to the inauguration.
“Many people, particularly those in his community, admire him. In his letter applauding Taylor, Stewart stated, “Russ’s intentions to uplift others reflect his passion for what is right and good.”
On December 11, Huish sent a request to Lamberth requesting permission for Taylor to attend the inauguration in Washington.
Taylor “has remained compliant with all Court Orders and has not given any indications of trouble or concern,” according to Huish’s letter, which also stated that Taylor “has demonstrated over and over again that he is trustworthy in his travel.”
As part of his sentence, Taylor had to obtain authorization before traveling outside of California, where he resides. Taylor had been given home confinement and probationary periods.
The reason Taylor received a shorter sentence than other Jan. 6 offenders was because he accepted “responsibility for his actions and furnished extensive assistance to the Government,” according Judge Lamberth’s Friday order.
“But Mr. Taylor s cooperation and good conduct while on probation do not diminish the seriousness of his acts on January 6, 2021, to which he has voluntary admitted, nor do they entitle him to the permission he now seeks,” Lamberth stated.
Taylor is not the only defendant who requested authorization to attend the inauguration on January 6. According to court documents, several defendants have submitted requests, including Christopher Belliveau, whose request was turned down; Eric Peterson, whose request was approved; and William Pope, who has not yet been notified of the outcome of his request.
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