New York man pardoned for Capitol riot pleads guilty to making threats against Representative Jeffries.
A 35-year-old man from Pleasant Valley, New York, has pleaded guilty to making threats against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, marking a significant development in a case that underscores the ongoing repercussions of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Christopher P. Moynihan entered a Clinton courtroom on Thursday, agreeing to a plea deal that includes three years of probation after admitting to a misdemeanor harassment charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2024.
Prosecutors revealed that Moynihan sent a distressing text message to another individual in October 2022, prior to a scheduled public appearance by Jeffries in Midtown Manhattan. In this message, Moynihan expressed a dangerous sentiment, stating that he “cannot allow this terrorist to live” and insisted that Jeffries must be “eliminated” for the sake of “the future.” Initially indicted with a felony for making terrorist threats, he ultimately reached a plea agreement for a lesser misdemeanor charge.
Moynihan’s history is fraught with legal issues stemming from his involvement in the Capitol insurrection. In August 2022, he was convicted of felony obstruction of an official proceeding related to his actions during the riot. He also pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges connected to the events of January 6, when a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in a failed attempt to overturn the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
The Justice Department’s case against Moynihan painted a vivid picture of the chaos that unfolded on that day. He was accused of entering the Senate Chamber and rifling through a senator’s notebook, uttering damning remarks about finding material to use against political opponents. According to reports, thousands of individuals converged on Washington, D.C., fueled by unfounded claims of a rigged election, despite clear evidence refuting such allegations.
In February 2023, Moynihan was sentenced to 21 months in prison, which was followed by a period of supervised release. In 2025, he was among several individuals who received pardons after Donald Trump returned to the presidency. This latest guilty plea adds another chapter to Moynihan’s tumultuous legal saga and serves as a reminder of the lingering impact of the Capitol riot on both individuals and American political discourse.
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