Andrew Taake is a 36-year-old man from Texas who was involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. During the riot, he attacked police officers using bear spray and a metal whip. Because of this, he was charged with assaulting law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon. Last June, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 74 months (a little over 6 years) in federal prison.
However, last week, former President Donald Trump issued a mass pardon, freeing about 1,500 people who were convicted or charged in connection with the Capitol riot. Taake was one of those people, and he was released from prison on January 20.
But here’s the problem: Before the Capitol riot, Taake had been arrested in 2016 for trying to meet someone he believed was under 18 years old for sexual purposes. That case was put on hold when he was arrested for the January 6 riot.
Now that he’s been pardoned and released, authorities in Harris County, Texas, want him to face those earlier charges. They asked federal officials not to release him and to send him back to Texas instead. Unfortunately, their request was ignored, and Taake was set free.
As of now, Taake is considered a fugitive, meaning he’s on the run and wanted by law enforcement. Harris County officials are still trying to find him and bring him to justice for the 2016 charges.
In a related incident, another person who was pardoned by Trump for their role in the January 6 riot was shot and killed by police earlier that same day. Reports say the person was resisting arrest when the shooting happened.
This situation has raised a lot of questions about the pardons and whether people like Taake should have been released, especially when they still face serious charges. Let me know if you’d like me to explain anything further!
