A pardoned January 6 rioter finds himself back behind bars, this time for an alleged crime against a minor.
At a Glance
- Andrew Taake, pardoned for his role in the Capitol riots, arrested for solicitation of a minor
- Taake was serving a 74-month sentence for assaulting law enforcement during the riots
- He was released last month under Trump’s mass pardon for Capitol riot participants
- Arrest stems from a 2016 charge that was paused due to his Capitol riot arrest
- Taake’s case highlights complexities in administering justice for pardoned individuals
From Capitol Rioter to Fugitive
Andrew Taake, a man previously convicted for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots, has been arrested on charges of solicitation of a minor. Taake, who was serving a 74-month sentence for assaulting law enforcement officers during the riots, was released last month as part of President Donald Trump’s mass pardon for Capitol riot participants. However, his freedom was short-lived as he now faces legal troubles stemming from a charge dating back to 2016.
The Harris County District Attorney’s office spearheaded a coordinated effort to apprehend Taake, who had been a fugitive for several weeks. The arrest was carried out by the District Attorney’s Fugitive Apprehension Section in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies. After a surveillance operation, Taake was located and taken into custody in Leon County, Texas.
Texas authorities arrested a Jan. 6 rioter recently pardoned by President Trump on Thursday for online solicitation of a minor.https://t.co/6vcb88loXt
— WSPA 7NEWS (@WSPA7) February 7, 2025
A Complex Legal Situation
The 2016 charge of online solicitation of a minor had been paused due to his arrest for the Capitol riots. Despite efforts to prevent his release, Taake was freed following Trump’s pardon, bringing the previous charge back into focus.
The District Attorney’s office had attempted to prevent Taake’s release due to the pending warrant in Harris County. However, bureaucratic complications led to his release in accordance with the presidential pardon, despite efforts to hold him.
Law Enforcement Cooperation
The successful arrest of Taake was the result of a collaborative effort between various law enforcement agencies. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare expressed gratitude for the coordinated efforts that led to Taake’s apprehension.
“We would like to thank the coordinated efforts of our office’s Fugitive Apprehension Section, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety for their diligence in getting this suspected child predator back into custody,” he said.
With his bond in Harris County revoked, Taake is set to be transferred to the Harris County Jail to face the charges related to the solicitation of a minor.
