Pardoned Capitol rioter Andrew Johnson tried to keep a child sex abuse victim quiet with claimed $10 million Jan. 6 reparations, police say.

A pardoned January 6 rioter has been charged with sex crimes against two children. Andrew Paul Johnson was arraigned in a Florida court in October on multiple charges, including molesting a child as young as 11 years old, joining a growing list of U.S. Capitol rioters pardoned by President Donald Trump who now face new legal trouble.

Archive article: https://archive.ph/3rQSU

  • Cyberflunk@lemmy.world
    1·
    3 days ago

    Fact Check: Andrew Paul Johnson - January 6 Rioter and Child Molestation Charges

    Verified Facts:

    1. Andrew Paul Johnson’s January 6 Involvement:

    • Johnson, 44, was arrested in 2022 for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, where he breached the building through a broken window NBC News
    • Court documents confirm Johnson referred to himself as “American Terrorist” and “Proud j6er” NBC NewsNBC10 Philadelphia
    • He engaged in “disorderly and disruptive conduct” for more than four hours and encouraged other rioters, yelling: “We haven’t accomplished anything here. This door is still closed. We haven’t accomplished anything yet. … We need to go through that f—ing door” NBC News

    2. Trump Pardon:

    • Johnson pleaded guilty in April 2024 to charges including unlawful entry, entering and remaining in a restricted building, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building Snopes
    • He was sentenced in August 2024 to one year in prison followed by a year of supervised release, plus fines and restitution Snopes
    • Johnson was among the roughly 1,500 people Trump pardoned earlier this year in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot NBC News

    3. Child Molestation Charges:

    • Johnson was arrested in Tennessee in August and extradited to Florida on charges of lewd/lascivious molestation, lewd/lascivious exhibition and transmission of material harmful to a minor NBC News
    • The victim’s mother discovered inappropriate Discord messages and upon questioning, her child revealed that between April and October 2024, Johnson had molested him on three occasions, beginning when he was 11 years old Global News

    4. Attempted Bribery with “Jan. 6 Payout”:

    • Johnson told the child that “since he was pardoned for storming the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, and he was being awarded $10,000,000 as a result of being a ‘jan 6’er’ … that he would be putting him in his ‘will’ to take any money he had left over” NBC News
    • Police believed “this tactic was believed to be used to keep [the victim] from exposing what Andrew had done to him” Global NewsNBC News

    5. iPhone Sent to Child:

    • Johnson mailed the child an iPhone “and told him to keep it a secret” NBC NewsNBC10 Philadelphia
    • Discord messages showed Johnson sneaking to the child’s home to take him food and hang out with him NBC News

    Current Status:

    • As of November 2025, Johnson was being held without bail in Hernando County Snopes
    • Johnson has pleaded not guilty, and his trials are set to start early next year The Intercept
    • Johnson is due back in court December 10 on the child molestation charges NBC10 PhiladelphiaGulf Coast News Now

    Additional Context:

    • Trump has discussed the possibility of compensating Jan. 6 rioters, but no one has received any payments NBC News
    • Johnson is part of a growing list of pardoned Jan. 6 rioters who have been arrested for new crimes, including others arrested for threatening to assassinate House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, kidnapping and sexual assault charges, and various other offenses MS NOW

    The social media post accurately captures the disturbing facts of this case. Johnson did indeed call himself “American Terrorist,” was pardoned by Trump for his January 6 involvement, and was subsequently arrested for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old boy while attempting to silence him with promises of millions from a nonexistent “Jan. 6 payout” and sending him an iPhone to keep quiet.

    Sources: