Republican lawmakers have urged a judge to allow a felon to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration even though he admitted recruiting "fighters" to riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, former Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) said that he and three current Republican House lawmakers from Utah invited Russell Taylor to Trump's second inauguration, Politico reported Wednesday.
"Russ Taylor is a man of integrity and faith who has served those who are less fortunate," Stewart wrote. "Russ' passion for what is right and good is reflected in his intentions to lift others."
"I am honored to extend this invitation for him to attend the Inauguration as my guest," he added.
Lamberth must agree before Taylor can attend the inauguration as a condition of his probation.
Stewart's letter did not mention that Taylor spent weeks planning for Jan. 6, including the recruitment of "fighters" associated with the "Three Percenters" militia movement.
"He advised them on the types of weapons they could carry in Washington and, after the riot subsided, told an associate that the next step would be 'insurrection,'" Politico noted.
Speaking at a pro-Trump rally a day before the riot, Taylor vowed: "In these streets, we will fight, and we will bleed before we allow our freedom to be taken from us … we will not return to our peaceful way of life until this election is made right."
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Lamberth sentenced Taylor to six months of home confinement after he agreed to testify against a member of his group who received an 11-year prison sentence. The judge cited Taylor's remorse and testimony when sentencing him.
Taylor's attendance at the inauguration could bring him face-to-face with some of the same officers who defended the Capitol during the deadly riot.
Trump has said he will "most likely" pardon Jan. 6 rioters on day one of his presidency.
