*A man previously pardoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack has been arrested for allegedly making death threats against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, highlighting growing concerns about violent extremism directed at U.S. political leaders.
Federal authorities confirmed that Christopher Moynihan was taken into custody in New York after the FBI traced threatening text messages to him. According to court documents, Moynihan wrote:
“Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC. I cannot allow this terrorist to live,” and “Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated. I will kill him for the future.”
The FBI acted on a tip and conducted a detailed investigation before making the arrest. Moynihan is currently being held at the Dutchess County Justice and Transitional Center. He had previously served time for participating in the Capitol riot before receiving a presidential pardon.
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Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, condemned the threats in a statement, noting that Moynihan had been pardoned by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.
“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 never have been pardoned,” Jeffries said.
Speaking to reporters at the Capitol, Jeffries vowed resilience in the face of rising extremism: “We will not bend, we will not break, and we will never bow down.”
The incident comes as the U.S. Capitol Police project approximately 14,000 threat assessment cases in 2025—a sharp increase compared to prior years. Security experts warn that political rhetoric labeling opponents as “terrorists” or “enemies” has fueled hostility against elected officials. Jeffries himself recently criticized White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt for remarks describing Democrats as terrorists.
Meanwhile, New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zoran Mamdani, has faced accusations of antisemitism after refusing to condemn the intifada. The Anti-Defamation League has announced it will closely monitor his policies. Analysts note that the broader trend line of political extremism has continued to climb steadily over the past five years, raising alarms about the safety of public officials and the stability of democratic institutions.
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