Andrew Taake, a convict pardoned by President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riots, was arrested on Thursday for felony charges related to soliciting a minor.
Taake had been serving a 74-month sentence for assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol riots. Last month, he was released as part of Trump’s mass pardon for those convicted in connection with the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. However, just weeks after his release, Taake was arrested on charges stemming from a 2016 case involving the online solicitation of a minor.
According to a statement from the Harris County District Attorney’s office, Taake was apprehended at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday by the District Attorney’s Fugitive Apprehension Section, working with various law enforcement agencies. The statement explained that Taake had been wanted in Harris County for the 2016 charges, which were put on hold due to his involvement in the January 6th riots.
“Taake was arrested after a surveillance operation conducted on February 4th confirmed Taake was staying at a residence in Leon County,” the statement read. “His bond in Harris County has been revoked, and HCSO will work with authorities in Leon County to transfer Taake to the Harris County Jail.”
Taake had been considered a fugitive for several weeks before his arrest on Thursday. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare praised the collaborative effort between local and state law enforcement: “We would like to thank the coordinated efforts of our office’s Fugitive Apprehension Section, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety for their diligence in getting this suspected child predator back into custody.”
The solicitation charge against Taake had been pending since 2016, but the case was paused after his involvement in the Capitol riot led to his imprisonment. Before his release from federal custody in January, the Harris County District Attorney’s office requested that Taake be held due to the outstanding charges in Texas. However, due to Trump’s pardon, Taake was freed on January 20, 2025.
Taake’s arrest marks the latest chapter in a troubling case, highlighting how quickly he moved from being pardoned to facing serious new charges.
