A pardoned rioter from the January 6 Capitol insurrection, Andrew Paul Johnson, is facing serious criminal charges involving child sexual offenses. Johnson, aged 44, appeared in court in Hernando County, Florida, in October 2023, where he faced multiple charges, including molesting a child as young as 11.
Charges and Legal Troubles
Johnson’s arraignment includes two criminal cases related to separate victims. One case involves charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12, while the other pertains to lewd or lascivious behavior towards a child under 16.
- Victim ages: One child was 11 years old; the other was under 16.
- Charges include:
- Lewd or lascivious molestation
- Lewd or lascivious behavior
- Exhibition with a victim under the age of 16
- Transmitting harmful information to minors
Allegations of Offering Reparations
Details emerged from a police report stating Johnson suggested one of his victims could receive money from him. He claimed he was entitled to $10 million in reparations related to his involvement in the January 6 events. Johnson purportedly considered adding the child to his will as a way to silence them.
Pardoned but in Trouble
Johnson was among the individuals charged during the January 6, 2021, riot, where supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Following his guilty plea for charges related to that event, he received a presidential pardon in January 2025.
His past actions have raised concerns, as he allegedly communicated inappropriately with minors through a messaging platform, Discord, sending explicit images and making inappropriate comments. Reports detail incidents of sexual abuse occurring over a six-month period.
Community Interaction
Following his pardon, Johnson became an active participant in the online community surrounding the January 6 events. He engaged in discussions on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and appeared to support conspiracy theories about federal agents infiltrating gatherings of rioters.
As legal proceedings unfold, Johnson has pleaded not guilty to the recent charges. His trials are scheduled to commence in early 2024. Meanwhile, the cases against him are drawing attention amidst a rising number of pardoned Capitol rioters facing new legal challenges.
