CLINTON, NY – A Hudson Valley man once pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has pleaded guilty to a harassment charge after threatening U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Christopher Moynihan, 35, of Pleasant Valley, admitted in Town of Clinton Court to second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday. The charge stemmed from an October 17, 2025 incident in which Moynihan made a phone call threatening harm to another person in connection with the Democratic lawmaker.
Prosecutors agreed to drop a more serious felony count of making a terrorist threat as part of the plea deal. Moynihan now faces three years of probation, with sentencing set for April 2, 2026.
District Attorney Anthony Parisi said the resolution “ensures accountability and public safety,” emphasizing that threats against public officials are not protected speech. “Threats against elected officials are not political speech, they are criminal acts that strike at the heart of public safety and our democratic system,” Parisi said.
The case was investigated by the New York State Police, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police, and the NYPD. Congressman Jeffries was said to have cooperated fully with investigators throughout the case.
Key details in the case:
- Christopher Moynihan, 35, pleaded guilty to second-degree aggravated harassment.
- Felony charge of making a terrorist threat was dropped.
- Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2026, with a three-year probation term expected.
Moynihan previously made national headlines after receiving a presidential pardon in 2021 for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, during which he was accused of ransacking a congressional desk. The latest conviction marks a legal setback for the Pleasant Valley resident, returning him to criminal status less than five years after his federal pardon.