Defendant Entered Senate Chamber, Paged Through Notebook, Took Out Papers on Senator’s Desk
A New York man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He also pleaded guilty to related misdemeanor offenses. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Christopher Patrick Moynihan, 41, of Salt Point, New York, was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony. He also pleaded guilty to a total of five related misdemeanor charges. Judge Christopher R. Cooper returned the verdict on the obstruction charge after a trial in which Moynihan and the government agreed upon a stipulated set of facts regarding his conduct.
According to the stipulated facts, on Jan. 6, 2021, Moynihan was among rioters who broke through the security perimeter on the east side of the Capitol Building. He joined rioters outside the Rotunda Door, and at approximately 2:40 p.m., was among those who entered the building. At approximately 2:45 p.m., he briefly entered the Senate Gallery. Several minutes later, he entered the Senate Chamber. While in the Senate Chamber, Moynihan paged through a notebook on top of a Senator’s desk, taking out papers, and taking pictures with his cellphone. While looking through the papers, he said, “There’s gotta be something in here we can f—- use against these —-bags.”
Moynihan then walked down to the Senate well, where he stood adjacent to an elevated desk and platform. He stood with a group of rioters who shouted, cheered, and said prayers with a bullhorn. At approximately 3:08 p.m., law enforcement officers cleared the Senate Chamber and Moynihan was escorted out of the Capitol Building.
Moynihan is to be sentenced on Dec. 20, 2022. He faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison on the obstruction charge, and a total statutory maximum of 3 ½ additional years on the misdemeanor charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 19 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 860 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 260 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
