President Donald Trump's blanket pardon of many Jan. 6 defendants has come under renewed scrutiny after one beneficiary, Christopher Moynihan of Clinton, N.Y., was charged with threatening to kill House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York State Police said. Moynihan, 34, is being held in lieu of $10,000 cash bail on a Class D felony charge of making a terroristic threat.
A felony complaint filed in New York state court says Moynihan sent text messages that explicitly targeted Mr. Jeffries ahead of a scheduled appearance in New York City. The complaint quotes the messages: "Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live. ... Even if I am hated he must be eliminated. ... I will kill him for the future."
Mr. Jeffries, who represents a New York City district and is the House Democratic leader, thanked law-enforcement officials and condemned the threat. "I am grateful to state and federal law enforcement for their swift and decisive action to apprehend a dangerous individual who made a credible death threat against me with every intention to carry it out," he said in a statement.
Jeffries also tied the arrest to Mr. Trump's pardons. "The person arrested, along with thousands of violent felons who stormed the US Capitol during the January 6th attack, was pardoned by Donald Trump on the President's very first day in office," Jeffries said. "Since the blanket pardon that occurred earlier this year, many of the criminals released have committed additional crimes throughout the country," he added. "Unfortunately, our brave men and women in law enforcement are being forced to spend their time keeping our communities safe from these violent individuals who should never have been pardoned."
Mr. Moynihan pleaded guilty in August 2022 to five misdemeanor counts and was convicted at a stipulated trial on one felony count related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He was sentenced in February 2023 to 21 months in prison, surrendered in March, and was released after serving about 12 months while appealing the felony conviction.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson weighed in from Washington. "Anybody who threatens to kill any political official we denounce it absolutely. We ought to have justice fall upon their head," he said at the Capitol.
Key facts
- Defendant: Christopher Moynihan, 34, of Clinton, N.Y.
- Charge: Making a terroristic threat (Class D felony).
- Bail: Held in lieu of $10,000 cash.
- Background: Pleaded guilty Aug. 2022 to misdemeanors; convicted at stipulated trial on one felony; sentenced Feb. 2023 to 21 months, served ~12 months.
- Pardon: Included among roughly 1,500 people pardoned by President Trump on Jan. 20, 2025.
