Table of Contents
- New Charges Against Pardoned Jan. 6 Participant
- Who Is Christopher Moynihan?
- The Trump Pardon That Sparked Controversy
- Alleged Threats Against House Democratic Leader
- Legal and Political Fallout
- Sources
Jan. 6 Pardoned Rioter Now Accused of Threatening Hakeem Jeffries
Christopher Moynihan, a New York man previously pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, has been charged with threatening House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries—a development that marks the first known case of a Jan. 6 participant reoffending against an elected federal official.
According to federal prosecutors, Moynihan allegedly sent a series of menacing communications targeting Rep. Jeffries, including references to violence and calls for retribution. The charges were unsealed Tuesday in the Eastern District of New York.
Who Is Christopher Moynihan?
Moynihan, 43, of Long Island, was among the hundreds who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Court records show he entered the Capitol building and remained inside for over 30 minutes, though he was not accused of engaging in physical violence during the riot.
In late 2024, as part of a sweeping clemency initiative, Trump granted Moynihan a full presidential pardon—alongside dozens of other Jan. 6 defendants—citing “political persecution” and calling the prosecutions “weaponized justice.”
The Trump Pardon That Sparked Controversy
While presidential pardons typically erase federal convictions, they do not shield individuals from future criminal conduct. Moynihan’s pardon cleared his prior conviction for disorderly conduct and entering a restricted building, but it offered no immunity for subsequent offenses.
Legal experts note that Moynihan’s case underscores a growing concern: that some pardoned Jan. 6 participants may feel emboldened to continue engaging in politically motivated threats or acts of intimidation.
Alleged Threats Against House Democratic Leader
Court documents reveal that Moynihan used encrypted messaging platforms and social media to direct threats at Rep. Jeffries, the highest-ranking Democrat in the House and a vocal critic of Trump and the January 6 insurrection.
Among the messages cited by prosecutors: “You won’t survive another term,” and “Jeffries will learn what real justice looks like.” Investigators say the communications were traced back to Moynihan through digital forensics and IP logs.
Moynihan was arrested without incident at his home in Suffolk County and is currently being held pending a bail hearing. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison for transmitting threats in interstate commerce.
Legal and Political Fallout
The case has reignited debate over the scope and consequences of Trump’s pardons. Critics argue that blanket clemency for Jan. 6 offenders undermines accountability, while supporters maintain it was a necessary correction to overzealous prosecutions.
Rep. Jeffries’ office declined to comment on the specifics of the case but reaffirmed its commitment to “defending democracy against all forms of intimidation.”
Moynihan appears to be the only individual pardoned for Jan. 6-related crimes who has since been charged with threatening a federal elected official—a distinction that has drawn attention from the Justice Department’s national security division.
