Pardoned Rioter Arrested for Threatening Jeffries

Christopher Patrick Moynihan, 34, a man pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, was arrested and charged with a felony terroristic threat after prosecutors say he sent text messages saying he planned to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during an upcoming New York City speech. Court filings quote Moynihan saying, "Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live" and "Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated, I will kill him for the future," language prosecutors say put the recipient in reasonable fear. The arrest followed an investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and New York State Police; authorities sought and were granted an extreme risk protection order. Moynihan was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and is being held in lieu of cash or bond pending a court appearance later this week; the charge carries potential prison time. He was previously convicted of obstructing an official proceeding for his role in the Capitol breach, was sentenced to about 21 months in federal prison, and received a mass pardon in January.