David Daniel, a participant in the January 6th Capitol riot who received a presidential pardon, is now negotiating a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in a disturbing child exploitation case, according to recently filed court documents.
Legal filings reveal Daniel faces charges in North Carolina for sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. The documents, signed by Daniel's attorney, detail allegations that between 2015 and 2016, Daniel coerced a child under 12 years old "to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of the conduct."
Prosecutors allege Daniel used a mobile phone to record the explicit material and stored the images on a hard drive.
In a separate incident from 2021, authorities claim Daniel pressured another minor under 18 to "engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct." According to court documents, Daniel allegedly instructed the victim on specific types of child pornography he wanted, with the material subsequently sent to his iPhone via an online messaging application.
Federal investigators discovered the illicit material in November 2023—the same month Daniel was arrested in connection with the January 6th Capitol breach.
Daniel was among approximately 1,500 January 6th defendants pardoned by former President Donald Trump in January 2025. However, earlier this year, a judge ruled that presidential pardon did not extend to Daniel's child exploitation case, allowing those charges to proceed independently.
The timing of Daniel's sentencing remains uncertain as plea negotiations continue between defense attorneys and federal prosecutors.