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Christopher Moynihan, a pardoned Capitol rioter was arrested on Sunday (October 19) on allegations of threatening to kill Democrat House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, according to court documents obtained by CBS News.
Moynihan faces a felony charge of making a terroristic threat after he allegedly planned to "eliminate" Jeffries during his speech scheduled to take place at the Economic Club of New York on Monday (October 20) in text messages.
"Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live," Moynihan allegedly wrote, according to prosecutors in the New York state criminal case.
"Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated, I will kill him for the future," Moynihan added, according to the filing.
Moynihan's father confirmed to CBS News that his son hadn't yet been appointed a defense attorney but declined to provide further comment on the ongoing case when reached on Monday. The suspect is scheduled to make his first appearance in a Dutchess County court on Thursday (October 23).
Moynihan was previously found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding and pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges for his role in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riots in August 2022 and sentenced to 21 months in prison in February 2023 before being among the more than 1,500 defendants granted clemency by President Donald Trump at the beginning of his second term in office earlier this year. Prosecutors accused Moynihan of being among the first rioters to breach police barricades and gain access to the U.S. Capitol when the riots took place.
Moynihan was among the riot defendants who gained access to the U.S. Senate floor during the incident.