Mystery surrounds ex-Marine's movements at Trump golf course, possible motives

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Set us as preferred Authorities are trying unlock the mystery of a Downey security guard accused of weapons violations after he twice visited the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes in advance of this week’s presidential visit.Jeanine John Taele was charged by federal prosecutors with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.He was observed Friday and Sunday at the club, wearing a radio earpiece, taking photos of Secret Service agents on the grounds and carrying a round of ammunition in his pocket, according to a criminal complaint.Taele was arrested Sunday during his second visit to the golf course.

Authorities said they discovered a small cache of firearms at his home along with a security ID.But officials said they are trying to determine his larger motive and whether his aim was the hurt the president.He has no been charged with anything related to President Trump.On Friday, federal agents initially saw a suspicious individual, who was later identified as Taele, walking around the golf course, according to the affidavit.He allegedly drove to the golf course in a Toyota Tundra outfitted with a license plate that, according to the DMV, was not registered to the vehicle and was considered out of use since 2022.He then returned to the location Sunday, authorities said.L.A.

County sheriff’s deputies detained Taele after he told federal agents there that he was a State Department employee on site for security detail, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint in California’s Central District Court.A background check revealed he had a warrant out of El Segundo, so they searched his truck and found a loaded 9-millimeter pistol with hollow-point rounds, binoculars and a badge that read “security protection agent,” acc...