Christopher Patrick Moynihan, a New York man who once stood at the heart of American political upheaval, is again making headlines—this time for threatening the life of a top Democratic leader. Moynihan, 35, who was previously convicted and later pardoned for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, pleaded guilty this week to a misdemeanor harassment charge after sending chilling threats to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
According to the Dutchess County district attorney, Moynihan’s threats came to light after he sent a series of text messages on October 17, 2025. In these messages, he declared, “Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live,” and “Even if I am heated he must be eliminated,” followed by the stark warning, “I will kill him for the future.” The texts, which were detailed in complaints filed in New York state court, were sent as Jeffries, who represents New York’s 8th Congressional District, was preparing for a public appearance in New York City.
Law enforcement didn’t take these threats lightly. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force traced the call and texts to Moynihan, who admitted to sending them as part of his plea agreement. The messages, prosecutors said, placed the recipient in “reasonable fear of the imminent murder and assassination of Hakeem Jeffries by the defendant,” as reported by The Guardian and local New York outlets.
After his arrest in October 2025, Moynihan was initially charged with making felony terroristic threats. However, this week he accepted a plea deal that reduced the charges to aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor. In exchange, he will avoid jail time, instead serving three years on probation. His sentencing is scheduled for April 2026, with prosecutors and Moynihan’s defense team having already agreed upon the terms.
Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “Threats against elected officials are not political speech, they are criminal acts that strike at the heart of public safety and our democratic system. My office treats these cases with the utmost seriousness because words intended to intimidate or terrorize can have real-world consequences.” Parisi further noted, “After a careful and thorough review of the law and the evidence, and in close coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police, the FBI, the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., and the New York City Police Department, we were able to reach a disposition that ensures accountability and public safety.”
The story of Christopher Moynihan is entwined with some of the most turbulent events in recent American history. On January 6, 2021, Moynihan was among the rioters who broke through the security perimeter at the U.S. Capitol as Congress was certifying the election of Joe Biden. According to court documents and video evidence, Moynihan entered the Senate chamber, paged through a notebook on a senator’s desk, took out papers, and snapped photos with his cellphone. At one point, he was recorded saying, “There’s gotta be something in here we can f---- use against these ----bags.”
In August 2022, Moynihan was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding—a felony—and five related misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison in 2023. His conviction was just one among more than 1,500 prosecutions stemming from the Capitol riot, an event that saw supporters of then-President Donald Trump attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in what has been widely described as an insurrection.
But Moynihan’s legal troubles didn’t end with his conviction. On January 20, 2025, he was among hundreds of Capitol rioters who received a full pardon from President Donald Trump on the first day of Trump’s second term. As reported by Reuters and other news outlets, Trump’s sweeping pardons were seen as a gesture of solidarity with his supporters who had backed his false claims of victory in the 2020 election.
Moynihan, who resides in Salt Point, a hamlet of Clinton in New York’s Hudson Valley, was one of at least a dozen residents from the region to face charges related to the January 6 attack. His actions on that day, and his subsequent pardon, made him a symbol of the ongoing political and legal battles surrounding the Capitol riot.
The recent threats against Hakeem Jeffries have only heightened concerns about the safety of elected officials and the persistence of political violence in the United States. Jeffries, for his part, has expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their swift response. In a statement following Moynihan’s arrest, Jeffries said, “I thank law enforcement for their swift and decisive action to arrest this dangerous individual who made a credible death threat against me with every intention to carry it out.”
Public defenders representing Moynihan did not respond to requests for comment regarding the plea deal, while Jeffries’ office has declined to elaborate further on the incident. The case, however, has reignited debates about the boundaries of political speech, accountability for threats against public officials, and the broader implications of presidential pardons for those involved in political violence.
The plea agreement, which allows Moynihan to avoid further jail time, has sparked discussion among legal experts and the public alike. Some see it as a pragmatic resolution that ensures accountability while avoiding a protracted trial. Others question whether the punishment fits the gravity of threatening a sitting member of Congress, especially in light of Moynihan’s prior actions and pardon.
District Attorney Parisi remains resolute about the outcome, stating, “We were able to reach a disposition that ensures accountability and public safety. I want to thank Congressman Jeffries for his cooperation throughout this matter, as well as our law enforcement partners’ collective and tireless efforts in bringing this matter to a responsible conclusion.”
As the nation continues to grapple with the legacy of January 6 and the ongoing threats faced by public officials, the Moynihan case stands as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by political extremism—and the difficult choices prosecutors and policymakers must make in balancing justice, public safety, and the rights of the accused.
With sentencing set for April, all eyes will be on the Dutchess County courthouse to see how justice, accountability, and the rule of law are ultimately served in a case that has already spanned years and touched the highest levels of American politics.