Judge suspends charges for gunman arrested at Trump’s California golf course

Published August 26, 2026 10:04pm ET



A California judge on Wednesday suspended criminal proceedings against the man accused of prowling around Trump National Golf Club near Los Angeles with weapons just days before President Donald Trump was set to speak at the location.

Jeanine John Taele, a decorated Marine veteran, was arrested on Aug. 2 after local authorities said they observed him walking throughout the golf course grounds, taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities. Prosecutors said Taele created a dossier detailing first lady Melania Trump’s daily schedule, in addition to hundreds of pages on Secret Service agents and sketches of the course. He was slapped with federal and state charges, with the Trump administration saying the arrest “prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring.”

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