A New York man who took part in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol and was pardoned by President Donald Trump has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a top Democratic member of Congress, police said.
Christopher Moynihan, 34, was arrested over the weekend on a felony charge of making a "terroristic threat" against Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democratic minority in the House of Representatives, according to a criminal complaint from state police.
Moynihan, of Clinton, New York, allegedly sent text messages on Friday to an unidentified individual stating that he planned to "eliminate" Jeffries at a speaking event in New York on Monday, the complaint said.
"Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live," it quoted a message as saying. "Even if I am hated he must be eliminated. I will kill him for the future."
Jeffries, who addressed the Economic Club of New York on Monday, said in a statement Tuesday that he was the target of a "credible death threat" by a "dangerous individual."
"The person arrested, along with thousands of violent felons who stormed the US Capitol during the January 6th attack, was pardoned by Donald Trump on the President's very first day in office," the New York lawmaker said.
"Since the blanket pardon that occurred earlier this year, many of the criminals released have committed additional crimes throughout the country," he said. "Threats of violence will not stop us from showing up, standing up and speaking up for the American people."
Moynihan was among the more than 1,500 participants in the attack on the US Capitol who received a pardon from Trump.
Moynihan was sentenced in February 2023 to 21 months in prison for taking part in the assault on Congress by Trump supporters who were seeking to block certification of Democrat Joe Biden's presidential election victory.
His arrest comes amid a rise in political violence in the United States.
Prominent right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, 31, was assassinated last month during a speaking event at a university in Utah.
In June, a masked shooter killed Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband at their home. Another elected Democratic official and his wife were also targeted and seriously injured.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro -- touted last year as a potential Democratic presidential hopeful -- had his home set alight in April in an alleged assassination attempt.
Trump was targeted by a would-be assassin in July 2024 during an election campaign rally in Pennsylvania and escaped with a minor injury to his right ear.Â
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