Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested for Threat Against Jeffries

Christopher P. Moynihan, 34, of Clinton, N.Y., a Jan. 6 rioter who was convicted in 2023 and later pardoned by President Trump on Trump’s first day back in office, was arrested and charged in Dutchess County with a felony for allegedly sending texts threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ahead of a New York City speech. Prosecutors quoted messages saying "Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live" and "I will kill him for the future," and the complaint says the texts placed the recipient in reasonable fear of imminent murder. The arrest followed an investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and New York State Police; authorities obtained an extreme risk protection order. Moynihan was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, is being held in lieu of cash or bond and is due back in town court; he was previously sentenced to about 21 months in federal prison for obstruction and related charges for his role in the Capitol breach. Jeffries thanked state and federal investigators and criticized the blanket pardons for returning violent individuals to the public, while Dutchess County prosecutors, New York State Police and House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the threats and urged arrests and prosecutions as officials review the case.