A man involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, who was granted a pardon by former President Donald Trump, is now facing allegations of threatening violence against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Christopher Moynihan, aged 34, reportedly sent menacing text messages concerning Jeffries’ upcoming public appearance, according to a felony complaint lodged in a New York state court.

The text messages, as detailed in the complaint dated Saturday, allegedly stated, “Hakeem Jeffries is giving a speech in NYC soon; I cannot let this terrorist continue to exist… Even if it makes me despised, he must be eradicated… I will kill him for the future.”

The identity of the individual who received these texts has not been disclosed.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, addressed the media on the Capitol’s steps on the 16th day of the government shutdown, Thursday, October 16, 2025. (Photo by J. Scott Applewhite)

The messages were allegedly sent on Friday.

“These text messages placed the recipient in reasonable fear of the imminent murder and assassination of Hakeem Jeffries by the defendant,” the complaint said.

A scene from the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021. (Julio Cortez, File)

Jeffries, who represents New York’s 8th congressional district, has been the top-ranking Democrat in the House since 2022.

In February 2023, Moynihan was sentenced to 21 months in prison on charges including obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony. He was among nearly 1,590 people charged in the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump who opposed the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory.

Moynihan was “fully pardoned by President Trump 1/20/25 for his role in the Capitol Riots,” an extreme risk protection order background report filed in Dutchess County on Saturday noted.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., right, talk with reporters following their meeting with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders on the government funding crisis, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.  (J. Scott Applewhite)

Moynihan is due back in court on Thursday.

“Threats made against elected officials and members of the public will not be tolerated,” Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said. “We will pursue every available investigative and prosecutorial tool to hold responsible parties accountable, protect potential victims, and deter future violence.”