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Armed Intruder Captured at Trump Golf Course: What Was He Planning?

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Jeanine John Taele was arrested on Sunday, accused by federal agents of engaging in suspicious behavior at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, days before President Donald Trump was scheduled to attend a Republican National Committee fundraiser.

Investigators allege that 38-year-old Taele of Downey, California, was photographing and recording "security-planning activities" around the property. He was arrested on weapons-related charges and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said they found illegal firearms and ammunition in his car when they searched it.

Authorities Say a Lot of 'What Ifs at This Point'

"There's a lot of what ifs at this point," Captain Calvin Mah, leader of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Major Crimes Bureau, told Newsweek. "We have to do some scrubbing of backgrounds and areas we might have access to to see if there are additional weapons."

Mah added that authorities are analyzing a notebook that was found and believed to have belonged to Taele and that authorities are looking into any social media profiles they can find of the suspect.

Taele's first name being Jeanine prompted immediate speculation online that the suspect was transgender. But Mah dismissed the claim, telling Newsweek that Taele is a biological male.

Conservative attorney and Trump ally Mike Davis posted to X on Tuesday in reaction to Taele's arrest, saying, "Jeanine and 'his'? Hmmmmm."

Taele was also wanted by the El Segundo, California, police department in a robbery investigation. Mah told Newsweek that the El Segundo force put out a watch in a California database and that when Taele was booked, it alerted the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department that there was a watch out on him.

Mah said the department then notified El Segundo that Taele was in custody. He said he believes the robbery probe was a few months old and didn't believe the suspect had other arrests on his record, but Mah hadn't been given access to his full criminal background.

Newsweek reached out to the White House and U.S. Secret Service via email on Tuesday night for comment.

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What We Know

The investigation expanded after detectives executed a search warrant at Taele's residence. Authorities reported finding numerous firearms, ammunition, body armor and notebooks containing what officials described as "concerning statements," CNN reports.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli posted to X on Tuesday that "This is an active investigation. My office, along with @FBILosAngeles and @LosAngelesATF, is reviewing the evidence and will provide more information when possible."

The incident comes amid an already heightened security environment surrounding Trump following previous threats and attempted attacks targeting him.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said there is currently "no credible threat" to the surrounding community.

Taele's bail has been set at $250,000 by a Los Angeles County judge, Fox News reports. He has also been ordered not to possess weapons, has been barred from Trump National Golf Club and is prohibited from leaving California while the case is still pending, the outlet adds.

Details on Taele's Arrest

Deputies with the Lomita Sheriff's Station responded to the scene around 3:30 p.m. Sunday and first made contact with Taele, Fox News reports.

During a pat-down, deputies said, they found a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition in Taele's pants pocket. Authorities subsequently searched Taele's vehicle, which was reportedly parked in the golf course parking lot, where they recovered a loaded pistol with a round chambered, police said, as well as an additional loaded magazine filled with hollow-point ammunition, the outlet reports.

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