Jan. 6 rioter says retired congressman invited him to Trump's inauguration

A Jan. 6 rioter filed a letter showing that a retired Republican congressman invited him to attend President-elect Trump's inauguration in Washington, D.C, next month. 

Russell Taylor, a California native, pleaded guilty to an obstruction count of official government proceedings in 2023. After entering a guilty plea, he testified against a member of an anti-government militia who ended up being sentenced to prison. 

On Wednesday, his attorney, Dyke Huish, filed a motion to U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, asking the former President Reagan-appointed justice to allow his client to attend Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. 

Featured in the Wednesday filing was a letter from former Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), which said the retired lawmaker was inviting Taylor, his wife and his three kids to the presidential inauguration. 

“Russ is a successful entrepreneur and business owner with his wife. He is caring father and reveres his family, his faith, and his love of our Country as his highest priority in life. He is admired by many, and especially those in his community. Russ’ passion for what is right and good is reflected in his intentions to lift others,” Stewart wrote in the letter. 

Stewart said in it that “three other current members of the Utah congressional delegation join

with me in extending this invitation.” Stewart did not specify which members of the Utah delegation joined in on the invitation.  

“I am honored to extend this invitation for him to attend the Inauguration as my guest,” Stewart wrote without referencing Taylor’s alleged conduct on Jan. 6, 2021. 

Prosecutors said Taylor had an "exposed knife on top of a bulletproof chest plate and carrying bear spray, a hatchet, and other weapons in his backpack, led a mob that overran a police line on the inaugural stage and stormed the Capitol." 

Lamberth sentenced Taylor to a six-month home confinement sentence, which he has completed. Taylor is now on probation. 

Since 2021, over 1,500 people have been charged with crimes regarding the breach of the U.S. Capitol, according to the District of Columbia’s U.S. attorney's office.