Capitol Rioter Pardoned by Trump Now Wanted on Child Solicitation Charges

Andrew Taake, a 36-year-old from Houston, Texas, was previously involved in the violent events of January 6, 2021, when he assaulted law enforcement officers using a metal whip and bear spray during the Capitol riot. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to these charges and was sentenced to six years in federal prison, along with three years of supervised release. However, he is now sought by Texas prosecutors for separate allegations stemming from his attempts to solicit an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old girl in 2016.

Court records indicate that Taake had been awaiting trial for the solicitation charges when he participated in the Capitol riot. Even though Texas officials formally requested that he remain in custody to face these allegations, he was released after Trump issued a blanket pardon for those involved in the riot, referring to them as "patriots." The Harris County district attorney’s office expressed concerns over the challenges of re-arresting Taake, who is now a fugitive due to the solicitation charges.

Federal prison authorities indicated that the pardon order from Trump mandated the immediate release of all inmates associated with the Capitol incident, regardless of their other legal troubles. Taake was not only pardoned alongside over 1,500 others but also has a lengthy criminal history, including a prior jail sentence and various offenses while incarcerated. Additionally, prior to his interactions with the undercover officer in 2016, Taake reportedly acknowledged that he could face legal repercussions for his actions. The case remains under investigation as authorities work to apprehend him.