A man from New York who was previously pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has once again been convicted — this time for threatening a sitting member of Congress.
Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Pleads Guilty to Threatening Rep. Hakeem Jeffries
Christopher Moynihan, 35, pleaded guilty to second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, after authorities say he sent disturbing threats targeting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the more serious felony charge of making a terrorist threat.
The Dutchess County District Attorney, Anthony Parisi, said the case was resolved in a way that balances public safety and accountability.
“Threats against elected officials are not political speech — they are criminal acts that strike at the heart of public safety and our democratic system,” Parisi said. “Words meant to intimidate or terrorize have real consequences.”
Violent Messages and Arrest
According to court documents, Moynihan sent text messages saying he intended to “eliminate” Jeffries, calling the lawmaker a “terrorist” and vowing to kill him. The messages were allegedly sent before Jeffries was scheduled to speak at the Economic Club of New York.
“Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated, I will kill him for the future,” Moynihan reportedly wrote.
Jeffries called the threat “credible” and said Moynihan showed clear intent to carry it out. He also condemned the broader consequences of Trump’s mass pardons.
“This individual, like thousands of others who stormed the Capitol on January 6, was pardoned by Donald Trump on his first day in office,” Jeffries said. “Since then, many of those pardoned have gone on to commit more crimes. It’s our law enforcement that now has to clean up the mess.”
Moynihan was arrested on Sunday and booked at the Dutchess County Justice Center. His bail was set at $10,000 cash, a $30,000 bond, or an $80,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on Thursday.
Past Conviction for Jan. 6 Capitol Riot
This is not Moynihan’s first run-in with the law. He previously served 21 months in prison after being convicted for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In that case, Moynihan was seen:
- Rifling through a senator’s desk
- Removing papers
- Taking photos with his phone
- Shouting, “There’s gotta be something in here we can f—ing use against these scumbags.”
He entered the Capitol with other rioters who were attempting to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. By the time Moynihan made it inside, senators and staff had already evacuated. He continued to occupy the Senate chamber, chant with others, and remained until forced out by police.
Moynihan was convicted in August 2022 of:
- Obstructing an official proceeding (a felony that carried up to 20 years)
- Five misdemeanors related to trespassing and disorderly conduct
He was sentenced in February 2023 by U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who also ordered him to:
- Serve three years of supervised release
- Pay $2,000 in restitution toward the estimated $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol
History of High-Profile Capitol Riot Involvement
Moynihan’s actions during Jan. 6 were widely publicized. He appeared in the same video footage as other high-profile rioters, including:
- Jacob Chansley (the “QAnon Shaman”), who was seen screaming and waving a flag
- Paul Hodgkins, the first person to plead guilty to obstruction in the Jan. 6 cases
Though the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that the obstruction charge had been misapplied in some cases, Moynihan’s conviction stood at the time.
