A Florida man once pardoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has now been convicted on serious child sex abuse charges.
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Andrew Paul Johnson, who previously received a full pardon from President Donald Trump for entering the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021, attack, was found guilty Tuesday in Hernando County, Florida, on multiple felony counts. Prosecutors confirmed that Johnson was convicted of molesting a child under 12, molesting a child under 16, and lewd and lascivious exhibition. He was acquitted on one charge of sending sexual material to a child.
According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the abuse occurred “over a many-month span” and included both physical and sexual abuse, and exposing himself to minors. One victim was 11 years old at the time.
William Forgie, the chief assistant state attorney for Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, told NPR in an email that Johnson “faces up to life in prison” when he is sentenced in March. Johnson’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
Police reports also allege that Johnson attempted to silence one of the victims by claiming he would receive $10 million from the Trump administration as restitution for former January 6 defendants and would leave the victim money in his will.
In 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to nonviolent federal charges stemming from the Capitol breach, admitting he entered through a broken window and yelled at police officers. Prosecutors said he described himself online as an “American Terrorist” and “Proud J6er,” and that he violated court orders by posing with a firearm while his case was pending. He was sentenced to one year in prison by Chief Judge James Boasberg, but later received a presidential pardon.
Trump has repeatedly referred to many January 6 defendants as “patriots,” saying in 2021, “These were peaceful people, these were great people.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding Johnson’s new conviction or whether any compensation for former defendants is under consideration.
