Capitol Rioter Who Was Pardoned By Trump Gets A Life Sentence For Molesting 2 Children In Florida

A Florida handyman who was sentenced connected Thursday to life successful situation for molesting 2 children had been convicted of storming nan Capitol connected Jan. 6, 2021, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, is among respective Jan. 6 defendants who person been charged pinch caller crimes since Trump's sweeping enactment of clemency for Capitol rioters. On his first time backmost successful nan White House past year, Trump pardoned, commuted situation sentences aliases ordered nan dismissal of cases for each 1,500-plus group charged successful nan attack.

Johnson was convicted past period of 2 counts of lewd aliases lascivious molestation of a kid and 1 count of electronically transmitting worldly harmful to a minor, according to prosecutors successful Hernando County, Florida. County Circuit Judge Judge Stephen Toner handed down Johnson's life sentence.

Sheriff’s deputies began investigating nan kid molestation allegations against Johnson successful July 2025. One of his victims told investigators that nan maltreatment started astir April 2024, respective months earlier Johnson was sentenced for his Capitol riot conviction.

Johnson told 1 of his victims that he expected to beryllium compensated for being a pardoned Jan. 6 suspect and would beryllium putting nan kid successful his will to inherit immoderate leftover money, according a sheriff's agency report.

“This maneuver was believed to beryllium utilized to support (the child) from exposing what Andrew had done,” nan study said.

Investigators recovered sexually definitive messages that Johnson exchanged pinch 1 of his victims connected nan Discord messaging app, according to Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson’s office.

"In nan messages, Johnson attempted to person nan unfortunate download different exertion for a much backstage speech and encouraged nan unfortunate to delete their messages afterwards," Gladson's agency said successful a news release.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg successful Washington sentenced Johnson successful August 2024 to 1 twelvemonth down bars aft he pleaded blameworthy to 4 misdemeanor charges stemming from nan riot. Johnson had asked to retreat his blameworthy plea, claiming that he was pressured into it, but nan judge rejected his petition earlier sentencing.

Johnson, of Seffner, Florida, was carrying a bullhorn arsenic he marched to nan Capitol aft attending Trump's “Stop nan Steal” rally adjacent nan White House. He entered nan building done an agency model that different rioters had smashed, according to national prosecutors. Johnson cursed and yelled astatine constabulary officers aft they utilized tear state to disperse nan mob of Trump supporters, prosecutors said.