Imagine a man once pardoned for storming the Capitol now accused of plotting a deadly threat against a top Democratic leader. That’s the chilling reality unfolding in New York, where a familiar face from the January 6 chaos has landed in hot water again.
Christopher Moynihan, a 34-year-old previously convicted for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, was arrested by New York State Police on Sunday for allegedly threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) during a speech in New York City.
Let’s rewind to that infamous day in 2021 when Moynihan was among the first to breach police barricades and storm the Capitol grounds. He didn’t just linger outside; he made it to the Senate floor, part of a smaller group caught on camera, even occupying the dais while shouting alongside fellow rioters.
Prosecutors later revealed he rummaged through a Senator’s notebook, reportedly muttering about finding dirt on lawmakers.
“There’s gotta be something in here we can f–king use against these scumbags,” Moynihan allegedly said while flipping through sensitive documents during the riot, per prosecutors’ records in his sentencing memorandum.
Fast forward to August 2022, when Moynihan was convicted of obstructing an official proceeding and pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges. By February 2023, he was slapped with a 21-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. But here’s the twist: on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump, on his first day of a second term, pardoned Moynihan along with over 1,500 other Capitol riot defendants.
However, just months after walking free, Moynihan allegedly sent text messages threatening Jeffries ahead of the lawmaker’s address at the Economic Club of New York on Monday. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force stepped in, leading to his swift arrest.
“Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC, I cannot allow this terrorist to live,” Moynihan allegedly wrote in a text, according to court filings seen by CBS News.
Moynihan didn’t stop there, reportedly texting, “Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated.”
Arraigned in a local court in Clinton, NY, Moynihan pleaded not guilty to the charge. He’s now held at the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center, with bail set at $10,000 cash, a $30,000 bond, or an $80,000 partially secured bond. It’s a far cry from the Senate floor, but justice doesn’t play favorites.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement: “Threats of violence will not stop us from showing up, standing up and speaking up for the American people.”
Jeffries also noted that Moynihan, “along with thousands of violent felons who stormed the US Capitol during the January 6th attack, was pardoned by Donald Trump on the President’s very first day in office.”
Many conservatives, while supportive of Trump’s push to correct perceived overreach in January 6 prosecutions, might squirm at this outcome. A pardon is a second chance, not a blank check to threaten public officials.
This case raises tough questions about balancing mercy with accountability.
Jeffries went on: “Unfortunately, our brave men and women in law enforcement are being forced to spend their time keeping our communities safe from these violent individuals who should never have been pardoned.”
Moynihan’s journey from rioter to convict to pardoned citizen, and now to accused threat-maker, is a cautionary tale. It’s not just about one man; it’s about a polarized nation grappling with how to heal wounds without reopening them.
Conservatives and progressives alike should agree: threats have no place in discourse.
So, where do we go from here? As Moynihan awaits his legal fate, the broader debate over pardons, accountability, and political violence looms large. Let’s hope this sparks a serious conversation—minus the usual partisan shouting match—about safeguarding both freedom and safety.
