Man Pardoned for Capitol Riot Arrested for Threatening to Kill House Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Trump-Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Charged With Threatening to Kill Hakeem Jeffries

A New York man pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack faces new felony charges after authorities say he threatened to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Police allege the suspect, Christopher P. Moynihan, sent text messages declaring his intention to murder the Democratic leader ahead of a planned speech in New York City.

Texts Show Clear Threats Toward Jeffries, Police Say

Christopher P. Moynihan, thirty-four, of Clinton, New York, was arrested on Sunday. Officers charged him with making a terroristic threat, a serious felony under state law. According to investigators, Moynihan sent several messages on Friday stating he planned to assassinate Jeffries. One message read, “I cannot allow this terrorist to live.” Another said Jeffries “must be eliminated.” He also wrote, “I will kill him for the future.”

Because the messages suggested an immediate danger, the FBI alerted New York State Police on Saturday. Troopers located Moynihan the next day and took him into custody in Dutchess County. He was arraigned soon after and is scheduled to return to Town of Clinton Court on Thursday.

Officials Praise Fast Action by Law Enforcement

Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said his office is reviewing the evidence “for legal and factual sufficiency.” He added that threats against elected officials or the public “will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

Jeffries thanked police and federal agents for moving quickly. He said Moynihan “made a credible death threat with every intention to carry it out,” and he warned that Trump’s decision to pardon many Jan. 6 rioters placed communities at greater risk. Jeffries argued that law enforcement now must spend extra resources preventing further violence.

Speaker Johnson Condemns Violence Across the Political Spectrum

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had not been briefed in detail on the case. Even so, he stressed that political violence is unacceptable. “We denounce violence from anybody, anytime,” he said. “Those people should be arrested and tried.”

Moynihan’s Jan. 6 Actions and Conviction

Moynihan previously served twenty-one months in federal prison for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Prosecutors said he pushed through barricades, entered the building, and reached the Senate chamber. While inside, he went through a senator’s notebook, shouted from the Senate dais, and refused to leave until officers removed him.

In 2022, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper convicted him of obstructing Congress’s certification of the 2020 election along with several related charges. When Trump returned to the White House in January, Moynihan received a full pardon, along with hundreds of other Jan. 6 defendants.

Arrest Renews Debate Over Pardons and Public Safety

Moynihan’s arrest has reignited debates over Trump’s sweeping pardons. Critics say the pardons encouraged some rioters to see political violence as acceptable. Supporters argue that the defendants were punished unfairly. However, legal experts say the latest case shows how broad clemency decisions can influence public safety and long-term accountability.

Next Steps as Case Moves Forward

Moynihan remains charged with making a terroristic threat. State prosecutors have not said whether federal charges may follow. Investigators continue to examine his communications, and they are also reviewing his recent activities to determine a possible motive. He is expected back in court later this week.