A man who was previously pardoned by former President Donald Trump following his involvement in the January 6th Capitol breach has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Christopher Moynihan, identified as a participant in the 2021 insurrection, faces charges after court documents revealed he sent text messages expressing intent to “eliminate” Jeffries. The messages, obtained by prosecutors, cited plans to attack the Democratic leader during a public event in New York City.
According to legal filings, Moynihan wrote: “Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live.” He allegedly added: “Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated, I will kill him for the future.”
Moynihan’s criminal history includes a 2022 conviction for obstructing an official proceeding during the Capitol riot. He received a 21-month prison sentence, 36 months of supervised release, and $2,000 in restitution. Prosecutors detailed his actions on January 6th, including entering the Senate Chamber, retrieving documents from a desk, and making inflammatory remarks.
The case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section. No further details about the current investigation have been released.
