Trump-pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested for Death Threat Against Hakeem Jeffries

A man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack was arrested Saturday in New York for making a “credible death threat” against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., authorities said.

Christopher Moynihan, 34, of Clinton, New York, was charged with a felony count of making a terroristic threat, the New York State Police said. The FBI alerted local law enforcement that Moynihan had threatened to kill a member of Congress, prompting his arrest.

“Following a thorough investigation, Moynihan was arrested and arraigned before the Town of Clinton Court,” police said in a statement. He is being held at the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center in Poughkeepsie, with bail set at $10,000 cash or $30,000 bond. A court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.

Jeffries confirmed the arrest in a statement, calling the threat “credible” and thanking law enforcement for acting swiftly.

Moynihan was sentenced to 21 months in prison in February 2023 for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors said he was among the first rioters to enter the building, shouted encouragement to others, and entered the Senate gallery, where he rifled through documents on Sen. Ted Cruz’s desk.

“And we’re f—ing in!” Moynihan shouted, according to prosecutors. “Down with communism. Down with Biden. We will restore our republic.”

Federal prosecutors described Moynihan as viewing himself “as part of an existential battle” against those who disagreed with him politically, noting that he “felt a unique allegiance to President Trump.”

After a Supreme Court ruling affected one of his convictions, a judge released Moynihan following about 12 months behind bars while his appeal was pending. Trump later pardoned him in January, part of a sweeping first-day clemency action for roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, including several convicted of violent crimes.

The Justice Department and the Town of Clinton Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment. CBS News first reported the arrest.

Trump has repeatedly referred to Jan. 6 rioters as “hostages” and “patriots.”

J. Williams

J. Williams (Jimmy Williams) is the editor of Poli Alert, where he leads coverage of Congress, the White House, the courts and the elections shaping communities across the country. A graduate of Coppin State University in Maryland, he has spent years as a writer and social media manager for multiple outlets. His focus is breaking political news down in plain language so readers know exactly what is happening and how it affects them. Reach him at [email protected].

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