In a significant legal development, Christopher Moynihan, a 35-year-old participant in the January 6th Capitol insurrection previously pardoned by former President Donald Trump, has entered a guilty plea for criminal harassment charges. The charges stem from explicit death threats made against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
The admission occurred during a court hearing in Clinton, New York, where Moynihan acknowledged transmitting threatening text messages targeting the Democratic leader. According to court documents, Moynihan’s messages contained alarming statements including: “I cannot allow this terrorist to live. … I will kill him for the future,” in reference to an upcoming public appearance by Jeffries in New York City.
Prosecutors emphasized the severity of these threats, noting they placed the recipient in “reasonable fear of the imminent murder and assassination of Hakeem Jeffries.” Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi condemned the actions, 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.”
Moynihan’s criminal history includes a previous 21-month prison sentence handed down in February 2023 for felony obstruction of an official proceeding related to the Capitol attack. He was among approximately 1,590 individuals charged in connection with the January 6th insurrection attempt to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about recidivism among pardoned January 6 participants, with watchdog organizations reporting multiple instances of re-arrests and new criminal charges against previously pardoned individuals. Sentencing for Moynihan’s harassment conviction is scheduled for April, marking another chapter in the legal aftermath of the Capitol attack.