The armed man accused of scouting President Trump’s Southern California golf club is a decorated Marine who imagined himself working federal security detail while meticulously documenting surveillance logs, The California Post has learned.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, falsely claimed he worked for the State Department and was assigned to a security detail when he was approached by federal agents and arrested at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes Sunday, according to prosecutors.
Taele was allegedly seen wearing an earpiece and photographing Secret Service during a previous visit to the course on July 31.
Investigators found seven notebooks filled with detailed surveillance logs during a search of Taele’s home after his arrest, The Post learned. The search also turned up an illegally modified AR-style rifle and gold badge that read “Fugitive Recovery Bail Enforcement.”
“Anyone with that amount of firepower around the President poses a serious threat. He had the means to carry out something very serious but thanks to the quick work of law enforcement, he never had that opportunity,” First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli told The Post.
“We dont’ know what his motive is yet. That’s the focus of our ongoing investigation. We will leave no stone unturned. He falsely represented himself as an employee of the state department. He claimed to be
conducting surveillance. As part of our search, we recovered 7 journals containing surveillance logs.
This is not normal behavior,” he continued.
Taele served in the Marine Corps from March 2008 until March 2016, reaching the rank of corporal while assigned as a warehouse clerk with the elite 1st Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Pendleton, according to military records obtained by The California Post.
Taele deployed to Iraq from October 2008 through March 2009, and later served in Afghanistan from June through December 2010, records show.
Jeanine John Taele was arrested at Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes. F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli, /X
Decorated former US Marine Jeanine John Taele is seen in an Instagram post. (Instagram/a_basic_dude_) Instagram/a_basic_dude_
He earned two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, awarded for repeated periods of honorable and disciplined service, along with a Navy Unit Commendation recognizing exceptional performance by his unit, according to his military file.
Taele received the National Defense Service Medal for serving during the post-Sept. 11 Global War on Terror era, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal for his overseas deployments, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons recognizing extended overseas assignments, and the NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal for supporting the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan.
As part of their deep dive, federal investigators are digging into Taele’s history, including whether he had any ties to extremist groups or connections to the Californian men at the center of a foiled terror plot at the UFC event at the White House, a law enforcement source told the California Post.
Taele now faces federal charges after his arrest just days before the president’s Aug. 4 fundraising visit at the golf club.
Taele was detained for taking photos and video of security-planning activities ahead of Trump’s visit to the golf club. Facebook/johnnytaele
Taele of Downey is charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli, /X
Deputies responding to the scene discovered Taele was wanted in an unrelated robbery case out of El Segundo when they first made contact with him at the golf club Sunday.
Authorities recovered a loaded 9mm pistol, hollow-point ammunition, binoculars and a badge labeled “security protection agent” from his truck, prosecutors said.
A subsequent search of his home uncovered what investigators described as an illegally modified AR-platform rifle, additional firearms, body armor, high-capacity magazines, communications equipment and notebooks containing concerning statements.
He was charged in a federal criminal complaint with possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the president’s visit,” Essayli said said in announcing the federal charges.
Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles is located in Rancho Palos Verdes overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Getty Images
“Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing,” he continued
FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Charge Patrick Grandy said Taele’s conduct “raised serious red flags.”
“There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, working with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service, the ATF, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, will investigate this case thoroughly,” Grandy said.
President Trump later downplayed the incident during an interview with Fox News.
“The only thing I get a little solace from is they say only consequential presidents, and I am definitely consequential,” Trump said. “I have no choice,” he added while pivoting to discuss Iran. “They can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
Taele also faces state firearms charges in Los Angeles Superior Court in addition to the pending federal case.
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