A man who participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach and later received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump has been arrested in New York for allegedly threatening House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Christopher Moynihan, 34, of Clinton, New York, was taken into custody on Saturday after the FBI alerted local law enforcement about what was described as a “credible death threat” against a member of Congress. State police later confirmed the intended target was Rep. Jeffries.
Moynihan has been charged with one count of making a terroristic threat, a felony under New York law. He was arraigned in the Town of Clinton Court and is currently being held at the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or a $30,000 bond.
He is due back in court on Thursday.
Moynihan originally gained national attention for his role in the events of January 6. Prosecutors say he was among the first to enter restricted Capitol grounds and was seen at the rotunda doors during confrontations between protesters and law enforcement.
He later entered the Senate gallery, where, according to court records, he briefly looked through items on a senator’s desk. Video footage captured him speaking with other individuals, though no violence was reported in connection with his specific actions.
In 2023, Moynihan was sentenced to 21 months in prison. He ultimately served about 12 months before a Supreme Court ruling altered one of the statutes used in his conviction. While his appeal was still pending, Moynihan was included in a broad clemency order issued by President Trump during his first week back in office in January 2025.
The pardon was part of a controversial but constitutionally lawful effort to grant relief to over 1,500 individuals convicted or charged in connection with the Capitol unrest. At the time, President Trump described the action as a move toward “healing political division and restoring faith in the justice system.”
Before January 6, Moynihan had several run-ins with the law involving minor theft and drug possession charges. In court documents related to his 2023 sentencing, federal prosecutors described him as someone who believed his actions were justified based on his political views.
His defense team stated that he had a strong belief in the legitimacy of his cause and had shown remorse for some of his behavior. They also acknowledged that he was “deeply influenced by political rhetoric” during the lead-up to January 6.
Rep. Jeffries confirmed in a statement that he was the subject of the threat and thanked law enforcement for their “swift and professional response.”
The Department of Justice and the Town of Clinton Court have not released further details about the nature of the alleged communication.
Legal experts say the charge of making a terroristic threat can carry serious consequences in New York, though its application can vary significantly depending on the facts presented at trial.
At this time, no federal charges have been filed in relation to the incident.
Moynihan’s case is expected to draw public attention, both because of his prior association with January 6 and because of his inclusion in President Trump’s high-profile pardon list. Whether the new charges will have broader implications for other pardon recipients remains unclear.
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After pulling this stunt, all he has done is give the progressive party more ammunition to use against the Republican Party. And maybe that’s what this incident was all about, to create a bogus threat and then make sure it would be exposed prior to actually happen. It make great left wing biased press content. In whatever case, he’s either a total nut case or a contracted actor and should be sheltered safely in Epstein’s former cell.