A man who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse charges in Florida, according to local authorities.
Shocking Allegations Emerge
Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, was taken into custody in August in Tennessee before being extradited to Florida where he now faces serious charges. Court documents reveal he's accused of lewd and lascivious child molestation of a child under 12, lewd and lascivious child molestation of a child between 12 and 16, along with lewd and lascivious exhibition and transmission of material harmful to a minor.
Johnson has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. His attorney didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from journalists, while the White House also remained silent about the arrest.
Disturbing Details of the Case
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by investigators, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office received a report in July stating that two juveniles had been victims of lewd and lascivious acts over many months.
The investigation began when one child's mother discovered Johnson, described as her ex-boyfriend who previously lived in the home, had been sending inappropriate messages to her son via Discord. When she questioned her son further, he revealed that Johnson had molested him three times between April and October 2024, when the child was just 11 years old.
Most disturbingly, the affidavit states that Johnson told the child he had been pardoned for storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and would receive $10 million as a result of being a 'Jan 6er'. Johnson allegedly promised to include the child in his will, which investigators believe was a tactic to prevent the child from reporting the abuse.
Background of Capitol Involvement
Johnson was among approximately 1,500 people charged in connection with the January 6 attack who received pardons or commutations from Trump earlier this year. According to FBI records, Johnson unlawfully entered the Capitol through a window breached by rioters on the Lower West Terrace.
NBC News reported that Johnson referred to himself as an 'American Terrorist' and 'Proud j6er'. Authorities stated he engaged in disorderly and disruptive conduct for several hours while encouraging other rioters to follow him.
Johnson initially pleaded guilty in April 2024 to charges including entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct, violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. He later attempted to withdraw his plea, but the court denied his request.
This case marks another instance where individuals pardoned by Trump for their January 6 involvement have subsequently faced serious criminal charges. Last month, another pardoned rioter was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Democratic House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries. In July, another man pardoned over his January 6 role received a life sentence for plotting attacks on an FBI office and law enforcement officers.
