A Florida man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has now been convicted of sexually abusing children — marking yet another case of a pardoned rioter landing back in court on serious criminal charges.
Andrew Paul Johnson, who received clemency for storming the U.S. Capitol in 2021, was found guilty Tuesday in Hernando County, Florida, of five state charges, including molesting a child under 12, molesting a child under 16, and lewd and lascivious exhibition.
According to William Forgie, chief assistant state attorney for Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, Johnson “faces up to life in prison” when he is sentenced in March. Johnson’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
Prosecutors say the abuse spanned months. A report from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office describes a pattern of sexual abuse and repeated incidents of Johnson exposing his genitalia to children. One victim was just 11 years old at the time.
The details grow darker. According to police, Johnson allegedly tried to silence one of his victims by promising future riches. He told the child he expected to receive $10 million from the Trump administration as restitution for Jan. 6 defendants and claimed he would leave the victim money in his will.
That restitution claim stems from ongoing advocacy by some convicted rioters and their supporters who have pushed for financial compensation since Trump returned to office. It remains unclear whether the administration will pursue any such payments.
Johnson’s criminal history doesn’t begin with the child abuse case. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to nonviolent federal charges for entering the Capitol through a broken window during the Jan. 6 riot and shouting profanities at police officers attempting to secure the building.
Prosecutors also said Johnson referred to himself on social media as an “American Terrorist” and a “Proud J6er.” While awaiting resolution of his Capitol case, he reportedly violated court orders by posing with a firearm.
His conviction is the latest example of a pardoned Jan. 6 defendant facing new criminal allegations after receiving clemency.
Johnson now awaits sentencing — this time not for storming the Capitol, but for crimes against children that could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.
