AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas resident, who was released from prison following former President Donald Trump’s mass pardons linked to the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, is now being sought by law enforcement for a 2016 charge involving the online solicitation of a minor, according to prosecutors.
Andrew Taake, 36, allegedly assaulted police officers using bear spray and a metal whip during the Capitol riot. He stands out among a select group of individuals connected to the January 6 incident who have attracted law enforcement’s attention since being pardoned last week.
Taake was let go from federal prison in Colorado after Trump issued pardons to nearly 1,600 individuals involved in the Capitol events. He was released on January 20, despite requests from Texas authorities to detain him for an outstanding warrant related to his previous accusations. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office mentioned that Taake had been awaiting trial for seeking inappropriate relations with a 17-year-old using a messaging platform.
A statement from the District Attorney’s office highlighted the challenges of re-arresting individuals like Taake, noting, “Re-arresting individuals, like Taake, who were released with pending state warrants, will require significant resources. Know that we are already in the process of tracking Taake down.”
Efforts have been made to obtain comments from Taake’s lawyer, Brett Podolsky, as well as the federal Bureau of Prisons, but no responses have been received.
In other developments involving those who participated in the January 6 insurrection:
In Indiana, a man was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop only days after his charges tied to the riot were dismissed. Matthew Huttle, 42, was shot after a confrontation occurred with the officer, although further specifics regarding the traffic stop have not been disclosed. Huttle had previously received a pardon for a misdemeanor linked to the Capitol intrusion and had been sentenced to six months in custody earlier this year. He has faced scrutiny for recording the attack while inside the Capitol with his uncle, capturing the events for 16 minutes.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Daniel Ball was arrested on federal gun charges in Washington, D.C., shortly after being released on felony offenses for launching an explosive device at officers during the Capitol assault. His latest charges relate to carrying a weapon as a convicted felon. The case unfolded after authorities searched his residence while investigating his involvement in the January 6 events. Ball’s prior convictions include domestic violence resulting in strangulation in 2017 and battery against a law enforcement officer in 2022.
In Kentucky, federal authorities are working to rearrest Daniel Wilson, who also received a presidential pardon, due to firearms offenses discovered during a search of his home following the Capitol riots.
This unfolding situation highlights the ongoing repercussions for individuals involved in the January 6 events, even after receiving pardons.
