- A convicted and now pardoned Jan. 6 Capitol rioter is back in custody. The 35-year-old Texas man is accused of a crime that dates back to 2016.
- He’s accused of solicitation involving somebody that prosecutors say was under the age of 17.
- The man was originally sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Full Story
A convicted Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioter, recently pardoned by President Donald Trump, is back in trouble with the law. Authorities in Leon County, Texas, took Andrew Taake of Houston into custody Tuesday, Feb. 4, on a charge of solicitation of a minor.
What is he accused of?
A fugitive task force and other law enforcement agencies were involved in the arrest as a surveillance operation pinpointed his location. The charge dates back to 2016 in Harris County. Taake is accused of pursuing a sexual relationship with somebody he knew to be under the age of 17 on an online messaging service.
When was he released after getting a pardon?
Taake was released from federal custody on Jan. 20, following the pardon by President Donald Trump. He had been housed at a federal prison in Florence, Colorado.
He was freed despite an effort by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to have him held due to the pending arrest warrant. However, federal officials apparently told Harris County it needed a certified warrant to prevent his release.
What was his role on Jan. 6?
Houston television station KHOU reported that in 2024, a judge sentenced Taake to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. According to the Justice Department, he used a metal whip and bear spray to attack police officers.
Bodycam video, along with photos posted to social media, showed the attack. In addition, federal investigators said Taake spoke about his role in the Jan. 6 riot with a woman on a dating app.
What happens from here?
Taake is currently in custody in Leon County, pending his transfer to the Harris County Jail.
