Dutchess man pardoned for Jan. 6 Capitol attack back in jail, accused of threatening to kill Rep. Hakeem Jeffries
State police and the FBI arrested 34-year-old Christopher Moynihan of Clinton last Saturday for making a terroristic threat.
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A Dutchess County man who was convicted for his role in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot and then pardoned...is back in jail. He is now accused of threatening to kill U.S. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries.
New York State Police charged 34-year-old Christopher Moynihan, of the Town of Clinton, with making a terroristic threat, a Class D Felony, after learning about alarming text messages allegedly written by Moynihan.
In the felony complaint, police said Moynihan texted an unidentified contact on Oct. 17 saying, "Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in New York City. I cannot allow this terrorist to live."
Felony complaint
Other alleged messages read, "Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated," and "I will kill him for the future."
Police said the recipient of the texts had reasonable fear that Moynihan was going to kill Rep. Jeffries.
Moynihan was previously convicted of a felony connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Prosecutors said Moynihan broke into the Capitol building, reaching the Senate chambers, where he went through documents at a senator's desk.
Moynihan had served about half his 21-month prison sentence when President Donald Trump pardoned him and several others involved in the Capitol attack.
Rep. Jeffries issued a statement on social media thanking the police and criticizing the pardons.
"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 have never been pardoned," Jeffries wrote.
Moynihan has not made bail and is being held at the Dutchess County Jail.
He is due back in Clinton Town Court on Thursday.
If convicted, he could spend up to seven years in prison.
A man and woman who answered the door at a listed address for Moynihan declined comment.
