Houston Man Pardoned by Trump Arrested on Child S-x Charge After Capitol Riot Sentence

A Houston man recently pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot has been arrested on an outstanding child s-x crime charge. Andrew Taake, 36, was taken into custody on Thursday after spending more than two weeks as a fugitive, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

Taake had been wanted on a charge of online solicitation of a minor stemming from a 2016 incident. Authorities alleged that he sent s-xually explicit messages to an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old girl.

The charge had remained active for years, but his recent pardon brought renewed attention to his legal troubles.

Taake was among roughly 1,600 people, including 120 from Texas, charged for their roles in the Capitol riot, which resulted in five deaths, injuries to 140 police officers, at least $2.8 million in damages, and nearly 1,575 federal criminal cases. Federal prosecutors said Taake attacked officers with bear spray and a metal whip before being identified through an online dating app.

He reportedly bragged about his actions to a woman he met online, even sending her a selfie taken "about 30 minutes" after the riot. The woman later alerted law enforcement, leading to his arrest.

In June 2023, Taake pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement and was sentenced to six years in federal prison. However, he was released early after Trump issued a sweeping pardon on January 20, exonerating hundreds of individuals charged in connection with the riot.

Trump has consistently referred to January 6 defendants as “patriots” and “hostages,” claiming his mass pardon corrected a “grave national injustice” against those who participated in the events.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare condemned Taake’s release, revealing that his office had sent a copy of Taake’s outstanding warrant to the Federal Bureau of Prisons five days before Trump issued the pardon.

Despite this, Taake was freed and spent two weeks evading authorities before being located and arrested at a residence in Leon County, Texas.

The circumstances surrounding Taake’s pardon have reignited criticism over Trump’s handling of January 6 defendants. Many of those granted clemency had been convicted of violent crimes, including assaulting police officers, breaking into federal buildings, and conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results.

In Texas alone, at least 37 individuals faced charges related to violent crimes during the riot, including attacks on law enforcement.

Some of those pardoned also had prior convictions or pending charges for unrelated crimes. According to a recent NPR report, dozens of riot defendants—including Taake—had criminal records involving r-pe,    s-xual abuse of minors, domestic violence, or production of child s-xual abuse material. 

Critics argue that the mass pardon overlooked these serious offenses, allowing individuals with extensive cr-minal backgrounds to walk free.

Trump and his allies have attempted to reframe the events of January 6, portraying the riot as a peaceful protest and its participants as political prisoners. However, federal investigations and court proceedings have painted a starkly different picture.

Of the nearly 1,575 people charged, two-thirds pleaded guilty, and approximately 250 were convicted by a judge or jury. Only four defendants were acquitted of all charges, while fourteen had their cases dismissed.

The role of Texans in the insurrection has been particularly significant. Texans were instrumental in spreading election fraud conspiracies and strategizing efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

On the day of the riot, a Texan was the first person to breach the Capitol. Texas lawmakers have also been among the most vocal defenders of those involved, echoing Trump’s claims that the riot was a justified act of protest.

Beyond individual participants, extremist groups and militias also played a major role in the attack. Stewart Rhodes, a former Texas resident and leader of the Oath Keepers militia, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after being found guilty of seditious conspiracy.

His case, along with others, highlighted the deep coordination between extremist groups and Trump loyalists in the days leading up to January 6.

Taake’s latest arrest adds another layer of controversy to Trump’s decision to pardon riot defendants. His criminal history, combined with his violent actions on January 6, raises questions about the vetting process used in Trump’s clemency decisions.

The case has also renewed concerns about the long-term implications of granting broad pardons to individuals involved in politically motivated violence.

While Taake now faces legal consequences for his 2016 charge, the broader debate over January 6 and Trump’s handling of its aftermath is far from over. The former president continues to defend his decision, maintaining that those who stormed the Capitol were victims of political persecution.

However, as cases like Taake’s unfold, the true extent of the backgrounds and criminal histories of many riot participants is coming into sharper focus.

As legal proceedings continue, the consequences of Trump’s mass pardons will likely remain a major point of contention in the political and legal landscape.

With the next presidential election approaching, the handling of January 6 defendants and their post-pardon actions may influence how voters and lawmakers assess Trump’s leadership and the accountability of those involved in one of the most significant attacks on democracy in U.S. history.