In brief
Christopher P. Moynihan, 35, of Pleasant Valley, New York, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassment after he allegedly threatened to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a text message. Initially charged with making terrorist threats, Moynihan's plea deal includes three years of probation. This comes after his prior conviction related to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, for which he received a presidential pardon in January 2025. District Attorney Anthony Parisi emphasized that threats against public officials undermine safety and democracy.
CLINTON, N.Y. (AP) — Christopher P. Moynihan, a 35-year-old man from New York, pleaded guilty this Thursday to a misdemeanor harassment charge for threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. This guilty plea comes a year after former President Donald Trump pardoned him for his involvement in storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.During a court hearing in Clinton, Moynihan agreed to serve three years of probation. The charges against him originally included a felony for making a terrorist threat, which he pleaded down to a lesser charge. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2.Moynihan, residing in Pleasant Valley, purportedly sent a message last October expressing his wish to harm Jeffries, reportedly saying, “I cannot allow this terrorist to live” and “I will kill him for the future.”Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi commented on the matter, stating, 'Threats against elected officials are not political speech, they are criminal acts that strike at the heart of public safety and our democratic system.'This legal battle follows Moynihan's sentencing to nearly two years in prison after participating in the Capitol riots. In January 2025, he was among hundreds of Capitol rioters who received a pardon from Trump upon his return to office. As the case unfolds, a spokesperson for Jeffries has yet to provide a statement.
