https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/mecklenburg-county/mint-hill-man-recently-pardoned-for-jan-6-also-charged-with-child-pornography-exploitation/
A Mint Hill man who was pardoned for his conviction from the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack was also arrested last fall on child pornography charges.

According to the federal court documents, the FBI and Mint Hill Police carried out a search warrant in November 2023 for the home of David Daniel related to the Jan. 6 allegations. During the search on assault and trespassing charges, agents also recovered his iPhone and several other electronic devices.

Federal investigators were made aware that Mint Hill PD had an open case regarding an alleged sexual assault of a minor. The minor, who was under the age of 12, accused Daniel of taking pictures of her while naked between 2015 and 2019, forcing her to shower with him and performing sexual acts.

A federal search warrant authorized reviewing the electronics seized from the local investigation. The federal affidavit says the contents of a laptop were consistent with the minor’s statements during the forensic interview.

Furthermore, there was an open statutory rape investigation in Forsyth County. During a review of the iPhone seized, the records indicate sexual images of a second minor were observed.

Daniel was charged and arrested on Sept. 20, 2024, on possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor related to sexual assault and trafficking of child pornography.

On Jan. 8, 2025, Daniel pleaded guilty to the Jan. 6 charge of assaulting or resisting a police officer. The conviction carried a maximum of eight years in prison; however, President Donald Trump’s sweeping pardons quickly cleared the vast majority of the Capitol offenders.

Khalif Rhodes says Daniel’s attorney could argue the pornography charges should be dropped since the images would have never been found if not for the Capitol breach investigation.