Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Faces Charges Over Threat to Assassinate House Minority Leader

Strategic Insights -

A Jan. 6 rioter who was pardoned by President Trump earlier this year is facing new charges after allegedly making a terroristic threat against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, according to court documents. The arrest comes as lawmakers are facing a surge in threats of violence, with the Capitol Police on track to have around 14,000 threat assessment cases by the end of 2025. The incident highlights the ongoing impact of Trump's blanket pardon on Jan. 6 rioters, with many of them committing additional crimes since their release.

Key Takeaways:

  • Christopher Moynihan, a 34-year-old resident of Clinton, N.Y., was pardoned by Trump in January 2025 for his role in the Jan. 6 riot and has now been charged with making a terroristic threat against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
  • Moynihan was previously sentenced to 21 months in prison in 2023 for obstruction of an official proceeding for entering the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.
  • The anonymous tipster who reported Moynihan's threat to the FBI was also concerned about his increased narcotic abuse and homicidal ideations.
  • Trump's blanket pardon has been criticized for enabling violent felons to commit additional crimes, with Jeffries stating that "many of the criminals released have committed additional crimes throughout the country."
  • Lawmakers are facing a surge in threats of violence, with the Capitol Police on track to have around 14,000 threat assessment cases by the end of 2025, up from less than 9,500 last year.
  • Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) denounced the threat against Jeffries, but also claimed that "the violence on the left is far more prevalent than the violence on the right."

Statistics:

  • 14,000: The number of threat assessment cases the Capitol Police are on track to have by the end of 2025.
  • 9,500: The number of threat assessment cases the Capitol Police had last year.
  • 21 months: The sentence Moynihan received in 2023 for obstruction of an official proceeding.

Sources:

  • Axios: "Hakeem Jeffries to be speaker of House"
  • New York State Police: "Arrest made in connection with threat against House Minority Leader"
  • Justia: "New York Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for January 6 Capitol Breach"
  • Axios: "Trump pardons Jan. 6 defendants"
  • Axios: "Threats to members of Congress on track to reach 14,000 this year"