Key Highlights:

• Andrew Taake, a January 6 rioter recently pardoned by Donald Trump, was arrested for soliciting a minor.
• The arrest took place in Texas, where he was wanted on a 2016 felony charge.
• Taake had previously served time for assaulting law enforcement during the Capitol insurrection.

Authorities in Texas have arrested Andrew Taake, a convicted rioter from the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, who was recently afforded a pardon by President Trump. The arrest occurred on Thursday in Leon County as Taake was wanted for a charge related to the online solicitation of a minor dating back to May 2016.

The Harris County District Attorney’s office confirmed the arrest, citing a surveillance operation that located Taake at a residence in Leon County. Prosecutors noted the operation was part of ongoing efforts to apprehend individuals connected to serious offenses. Taake is accused of attempting to engage in a sexual relationship with someone he believed to be under 17 while utilizing an online messaging platform. "We would like to thank the coordinated efforts of our office’s Fugitive Apprehension Section," said Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare in a statement regarding the arrest.

Prior to this incident, Taake had been sentenced to six years in prison for assaulting police during the insurrection, where he used bear spray and a metal whip against law enforcement, according to court documents. His actions on that day were part of the larger efforts by supporters of Trump attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Following his conviction, Taake was released after Trump issued a controversial pardon for over 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot, which did not extend to his outstanding charges of soliciting a minor. As per The Guardian, Taake was considered a fugitive on the solicitation charge after his release from federal custody on January 20, 2025.

A tip regarding Taake’s involvement in the Capitol attack originally came from someone he had matched with on the dating app Bumble. This individual reported his claims about participating in the riot, leading to his arrest in July 2021. Following his subsequent release, Taake had been on the radar of law enforcement due to the unresolved solicitation case.

As of now, Taake is being held without bond and awaits extradition to Harris County, where he must face the allegations against him. “Taake's story highlights the ongoing legal challenges many pardoned individuals are facing,” remarked a representative from the Harris County DA’s office.

For detailed reports on this incident, refer to the USA Today and The Guardian.