Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 40
- Location
- Ladera Ranch, California
- Charges
- Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting; Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder and Aiding and Abetting; Two counts of Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building and Grounds and Carrying a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon (knife); Unlawful Possession of a Dangerous Weapon on Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Russell Taylor, according to federal court records, joined the American Phoenix Project in 2020 and used the group as a platform to support then-President Donald Trump’s false claims of a “stolen election.” Taylor allegedly communicated with the leader of the group, Alan Hostetter, via the encrypted messaging app Telegram. After Trump called for a “wild” protest on Jan. 6, 2021, Taylor made plans to travel to Washington, D.C., with others, the records say. In one Telegram message described in court documents, Taylor said he was planning to be at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and wrote, “I personally want to be on the front steps and be one of the first ones to breach the doors!” Prosecutors say Taylor also created a channel on Telegram called the California Patriots-DC Brigade, which attracted more than 30 participants. In that channel, Taylor allegedly asked for members to describe any military or law enforcement experience they had, and said, “I am assuming that you have some type of weaponry that you are bringing with you.” On Jan. 5, 2021, Taylor spoke at a pro-Trump rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he allegedly pledged that “we will fight and we will bleed before we allow our freedom to be taken from us.” On Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors allege, Taylor carried a protective “plate-carrier vest” as well as a knife and a “stun baton.” At around 2:30 p.m. that day, Taylor and Hostetter joined rioters on the west side of the Capitol “pushing through a line of law enforcement officers trying to hold them back,” court documents say. Taylor sent a message at 6:18 p.m. that evening, prosecutors say, in which he said, “I was pushing through traitors all day today. WE STORMED THE CAPITOL!” In subsequent messages described by prosecutors, Taylor said he did not breach the Capitol building because he “had weapons.” When he was asked about what would happen next, Taylor allegedly responded, “Insurrection!”
Case History
Taylor pleaded Guilty to one charge: Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 5/3/2024 to 36 months of Probation; 6 months of home detention; special assessment of $100; restitution of $2,000; 100 hours of community service. Taylor received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.