A Houston man pardoned by Donald Trump for assaulting police officers during the Capitol riots, is now wanted in Texas for a 2016 charge of online solicitation of a minor, raising questions about the scope and consequences of the blanket pardon.
Andrew Taake, 36, was sentenced to six years in federal prison in June 2024 for using bear spray and a whip-like weapon against officers during the January 6 insurrection. He was identified and arrested after boasting about his actions on a dating app, Houston Public Media reported.
Taake's conviction was voided when Trump pardoned over 1,500 Capitol riot participants shortly after taking office. However, this pardon did not address a separate 2016 felony charge in Texas for allegedly soliciting a minor online, for which Taake had been out on bail.
Following his release from federal prison, Taake is now a wanted fugitive in Harris County, Texas, for the unresolved solicitation charge.
Local prosecutors have criticized federal authorities for releasing Taake despite his pending state warrant, highlighting gaps in coordination between federal and state systems.
Efforts to locate and arrest Taake are currently underway.
Meanwhile, Trump's sweeping pardon of Capitol rioters has drawn bipartisan criticism, with law enforcement groups condemning the decision for undermining accountability for violent crimes against officers.
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