An Update To A Previous Story
When President Trump dispensed mass clemency nine months ago, granting pardons to over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot just hours after returning to the White House [3], critics raised alarms. Now, one of those beneficiaries, Christopher Moynihan, 34, of Clinton, New York [2], has been rearrested, charged with making terroristic threats against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries [2], [7]. The irony, thick as molasses, is almost too perfect for a political system that consistently rewards bad actors.
What’s worse? He was given bail options:
- $10,000 cash bail
- $30,000 bond
- $80,000 partially secured bond
What are the chances a “GoFundMe” or some other crowdfunding effort will make his bail for him?
The Pardon That Paved the Way
Moynihan’s original convictions for his participation in the January 6th insurrection were wiped clean by Trump’s broad stroke of clemency [7]. This wasn’t an isolated incident; it was part of a sweeping gesture that effectively told a mob that their actions against American democracy would be forgiven, if not outright condoned [3]. Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, didn’t mince words, stating that Trump and his administration bore the responsibility for what these pardoned individuals might do next [2]. It appears his warning was tragically prophetic.
From Capitol Chaos to Targeted Threats
Authorities say Moynihan didn’t just stumble into a misunderstanding. New York State Police acted after the FBI provided intelligence detailing his specific threats against Leader Jeffries [5]. The charges allege Moynihan explicitly texted that Jeffries “must be eliminated” and chillingly declared, “I will kill him for the future” [7]. These are not idle musings; they represent a direct assault on the fabric of political discourse and the safety of elected officials. While other pardoned rioters have faced subsequent arrests, Moynihan stands out as the only one thus far charged with an offense directly targeting a member of Congress [1]. This isn’t just a lapse in judgment; it’s a terrifying escalation.
Accountability and the Echo Chamber
House Minority Leader Jeffries himself has publicly underscored the grave consequences of these Jan. 6 pardons [4]. The implication is clear: when you embolden those who seek to undermine democratic processes through violence, you create a pipeline for further threats. Moynihan’s swift release on bail after being charged with a felony for threatening to assassinate a sitting member of Congress only adds another layer of justified public outrage. It prompts a question that demands an answer: just what exactly does it take to demonstrate a threat serious enough to warrant holding those who would dismantle our institutions accountable?
Sources & Footnotes
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/us/politics/jan-6-rioter-hakeem-jeffries-threats.html ↩
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/hakeem-jeffries-death-threat-arrest/story?id=126723774 ↩
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pardoned-capitol-rioter-charged-threatening-hakeem-jeffries-nyc-trump/ ↩
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1FhO244zHo ↩
- https://www.npr.org/2025/10/21/g-s1-94359/january-6-rioter-pardon-hakeem-jeffries-threat ↩
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzjwihh0od4 ↩
- https://abc7.com/post/man-pardoned-storming-capitol-is-charged-threatening-kill-hakeem-jeffries/18052485/ ↩
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