Christopher Moynihan, a 34-year-old New Yorker who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, is once again at the center of a national controversy. This time, Moynihan faces a felony charge of making terroristic threats after allegedly threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives. The arrest, which took place on October 20, 2025, in Clinton, New York, has reignited fierce debate over the wisdom and consequences of the blanket pardons granted to hundreds of Capitol rioters earlier this year.
According to New York State Police and court filings cited by BBC, the FBI’s joint terrorism taskforce alerted authorities on October 18 that Moynihan had made credible threats against Jeffries. The threats came in the form of a series of text messages sent on or about October 17, in which Moynihan wrote statements like, “Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live,” “Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated,” and “I will kill him for the future.” These messages were reportedly tied to Jeffries’ scheduled appearance at the Economic Club of New York during the week of October 21, 2025.
The criminal complaint, obtained by The Guardian, states that the recipient of Moynihan’s texts was placed in “reasonable fear of the imminent murder and assassination of Hakeem Jeffries by the defendant.” The FBI and New York State Police acted swiftly, conducting what authorities described as a “thorough investigation” before arresting Moynihan and arraigning him in a Clinton, New York, court. He was ordered held at the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center on bail conditions of $10,000 cash, $30,000 bond, or an $80,000 partially secured bond. Moynihan’s next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, October 23, 2025, where a judge will determine whether he can be released pending trial.
Jeffries, who spoke at the Economic Club of New York just days after the threats were made, publicly thanked law enforcement for their rapid response and criticized the wave of pardons issued by Trump for January 6 defendants. “I am grateful to state and federal law enforcement for their swift and decisive action to apprehend a dangerous individual who made a credible death threat against me with every intention to carry it out,” Jeffries said in a statement on Tuesday, as reported by NPR and CNN. He added, “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.”
Jeffries further highlighted the broader consequences of Trump’s “blanket pardon” policy, noting, “Since the blanket pardon that occurred earlier this year, many of the criminals released have committed additional crimes throughout the country.” According to the progressive watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), at least ten pardoned Capitol attackers have been re-arrested, charged, or sentenced for new offenses since their release.
Moynihan’s legal troubles stem from his actions on January 6, 2021, when he was among the first rioters to breach police barricades on the east side of the Capitol building. Prosecutors say Moynihan entered the Senate chamber, paged through a senator’s notebook, took photographs of the contents, and was later escorted out by law enforcement. Video footage from that day, reviewed by NPR, captured Moynihan saying, “There’s got to be something we can use against these f***ing scumbags.”
Following his conviction in August 2022 for felony obstruction of an official proceeding and five related misdemeanors, Moynihan was sentenced in February 2023 to 21 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. His attorneys, according to CNN, cited a long history of opiate addiction and requested mental health and drug abuse treatment as part of his sentence. They also described Moynihan as someone who became increasingly engaged in politics during the Trump presidency, spending much of his spare time consuming political content online.
Despite his conviction, Moynihan was among more than 1,500 individuals granted clemency by Trump on his first day back in office in January 2025. Trump characterized these individuals as “hostages” whose lives had been “destroyed” by their prosecution. However, the mass pardons have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, especially in light of subsequent criminal acts by several recipients, including Moynihan.
This latest incident comes amid a troubling surge in political violence and threats against public officials in the United States. In 2025 alone, the country has witnessed a series of high-profile attacks: the firebombing of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home in April, the June murder of Minnesota’s former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the September shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university event. According to a Capitol Police statement cited by NPR, agents are on track to handle approximately 14,000 threat assessment cases by the end of the year—a dramatic spike from previous years.
Law enforcement agencies remain on heightened alert, especially following the string of assassinations and attempted attacks targeting both Democratic and Republican figures. The anonymous source who tipped off the FBI about Moynihan’s threats also expressed concern about his recent drug abuse and an “increase” in “homicidal ideations,” according to CNN and BBC. No attorneys have been listed for Moynihan in his current case, and efforts to contact his family have so far been unsuccessful.
The controversy over the pardons has exposed deep divisions in American politics. Critics argue that the decision to grant blanket clemency to January 6 defendants has emboldened extremist elements, undermined the rule of law, and forced law enforcement to divert resources from other pressing public safety needs. Supporters of the pardons, including Trump and his allies, maintain that the prosecutions were politically motivated and that those involved have already suffered enough.
For Jeffries and many on Capitol Hill, the threat is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by public officials in today’s charged political climate. “Threats of violence will not stop us from showing up, standing up and speaking up for the American people,” Jeffries declared in his statement, vowing to continue his work despite the risks.
As Moynihan awaits his next court appearance, the incident serves as a sobering example of the lasting repercussions of the January 6 attack and the ongoing debate over accountability, forgiveness, and public safety in American democracy.
