A former Republican House member and three current members of Congress from Utah invited Jan. 6 defendant Russell Taylor to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, according to a letter filed by Taylor’s lawyer. Taylor pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and cooperated with prosecutors against members of the Three Percenters militia group. He led a mob that overran the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, armed with various weapons. The invitation for Taylor to attend the inauguration came from former Rep. Chris Stewart, who praised Taylor’s family values and patriotism.
Stewart, a Trump supporter, resigned from Congress last year for his wife’s illness. Taylor organized a group of “fighters” to travel to Washington in response to Trump’s tweet calling the day “wild.” Taylor’s lawyer stated that his client has completed his home confinement and probation requirements. Taylor testified for the government in trials that led to prison sentences for his co-conspirators, and the judge described him as the “poster child” for proper handling of Jan. 6 cases. Trump has previously praised Jan. 6 rioters, calling them “hostages” and “patriots.”
Over 1,570 people have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, with over 1,100 convictions and more than 600 rioters sentenced to incarceration. The filing of Taylor’s request to travel to Washington for the inauguration comes after Judge Lamberth emphasized the principles of truth and justice, as well as the threat the Capitol attack posed to the peaceful transfer of power.
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