Pardoned by Donald Trump for his role in the violent January 6 Capitol attack, a man now faces new felony charges—this time for threatening to assassinate House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Christopher Moynihan, 34, was arrested Sunday in Clinton, New York, after reportedly sending a chilling text message stating his intent to “eliminate” Jeffries during a scheduled appearance at the Economic Club of New York.
“Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live,” Moynihan allegedly wrote, according to court documents obtained by CBS News.
The threat didn’t end there. “Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated, I will kill him for the future,” the message continued.
Moynihan, who had been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his actions on January 6, had his sentence commuted in January as one of Donald Trump’s first moves after retaking office. Now, he faces a new felony charge: making a terroristic threat.
Moynihan’s criminal history isn’t a footnote—it’s central to this unfolding story. He was among the earliest rioters to breach the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Prosecutors said he “rifled through a notebook on top of a Senator’s desk, saying, ‘There’s gotta be something in here we can f***ing use against these scumbags.’”
He was convicted in 2022 of obstructing an official proceeding and pled guilty to five additional misdemeanors tied to the riot. He was sent to prison in 2023—and now, not two years later, he’s back in custody.
This time, New York State Police say Moynihan was taken into custody and held at the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center, with bail set at $10,000 cash, $30,000 bond, or $80,000 partially secured bond. His court date is set for Thursday.
The alleged threat against Jeffries marks a disturbing escalation—Moynihan is now the first known pardoned January 6 rioter to be charged with making a violent threat against a sitting member of Congress.
The investigation began with the FBI and ended in a small Hudson Valley town, but the implications stretch far beyond Dutchess County.
While it’s not unusual for former rioters to end up in legal trouble again, this case hits differently. Threatening the life of the House Minority Leader isn’t just another charge—it’s a full-blown alarm.
Trump’s decision to pardon or commute sentences for hundreds of January 6 defendants—including some convicted of violence against police—continues to spark fierce debate. At least 150 officers were injured during the Capitol siege. One, Officer Brian Sicknick, died the next day from injuries sustained in the attack.
Four rioters also died that day. Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot while attempting to breach a barricaded hallway. Three others—Benjamin Phillips, Kevin Greeson, and Rosanne Boylan—died from medical emergencies during the chaos.
In the wake of this latest arrest, the White House has not issued a comment.
