A Florida man recently pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol Riots is now facing severe criminal charges involving the sexual abuse of two minors. According to police, Andrew Paul Johnson attempted to silence one of his alleged victims by promising them a share of a multi-million dollar government payout he claimed he was owed.
Johnson, 44, was arraigned in October in a Florida court on charges that include lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12. The case marks a disturbing turn for a figure who had become a vocal, if controversial, member of the online community of January 6 defendants.
What to Know…
Pardon Misuse – Andrew Paul Johnson, a January 6 rioter pardoned by President Trump, allegedly used the promise of non-existent government “reparations” to silence a child victim he is accused of molesting.
Severe Charges – Johnson faces multiple serious charges in Florida, including lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12 and transmitting harmful material to minors, involving two separate victims.
Pattern of Conduct – This case adds to a growing list of pardoned or high-profile January 6 defendants who have subsequently faced legal trouble for unrelated sex crimes, complicating the narrative often pushed by their political supporters.
The “Reparations” Scheme
According to a police report filed by a detective with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Department, Johnson manipulated a child victim by claiming he was entitled to $10 million in “reparations” due to his arrest following the 2021 Capitol breach.
Investigators say Johnson promised to place the child in his will to inherit the remaining funds upon his death. Police allege this offer was a strategic attempt to buy the victim’s silence and keep them from “exposing what Andrew had done.”
While President Trump and various January 6 supporters have previously floated the idea of a compensation fund for those prosecuted, no payments are being made to any of the insurectionists and there aren’t any plans to do so.
Disturbing Allegations
Johnson faces two separate criminal cases involving two different children: the child of his ex-girlfriend and a friend of that child.
According to arrest affidavits, the abuse began when the primary victim was 11 years old. The child told investigators that Johnson, who was living with the family at the time, molested them on three separate occasions in 2024, including incidents where the child awoke to Johnson touching them.
The police reports detail a pattern of grooming and secrecy:
- Secret Communications: Johnson allegedly used the messaging platform Discord to send sexual comments and photos to the child without the mother’s knowledge.
- The “Burner” Phone: After the abuse escalated, Johnson allegedly mailed the child an iPhone 7, instructing them to keep it a secret to facilitate their communication.
- In-Person Incidents: A second victim, under the age of 16, told police Johnson exposed himself, encouraged the children to engage in sexual acts in his van, and made comments that led the child to believe Johnson was a pedophile.
Johnson was arrested on August 26 in a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, and subsequently extradited to Florida. He has pleaded not guilty, with trials scheduled for early next year.
From Rioter to Influencer to Defendant
Johnson was one of approximately 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6 riots. An FBI affidavit from his federal case included photographs of him climbing through a broken window into the Capitol building. He eventually pleaded guilty to violent entry and disorderly conduct in the spring of 2024.
However, following Donald Trump’s inauguration for a second term in January 2025, Johnson received a full presidential pardon.
Prior to his arrest on sex crime charges, Johnson had established himself as a prominent voice in the “J6 community.” He hosted marathon audio sessions on X (formerly Twitter) and maintained a YouTube channel where he frequently accused other rioters of being federal informants or provocateurs.
His profile was boosted by right-wing media outlet The Gateway Pundit, which ran a sympathetic story in June 2024 describing him as a “single father on the brink of homelessness.” The article helped Johnson raise funds from supporters. Jenn Baker, the author of that piece, has since expressed disgust at the new allegations, stating she has had no contact with Johnson since his pardon.
A Troubling Trend
Johnson is not the only pardoned January 6 defendant to face subsequent legal trouble involving sex crimes.
- David Daniel: Charged in April 2024 with possession and production of child sexual abuse materials. The evidence was discovered during an FBI raid related to the Capitol riots.
- Dillon Herrington: Another defendant profiled by The Gateway Pundit, currently jailed while awaiting trial on a 2023 first-degree rape charge.
- Click here to see a more complete list of MAGA sex offenders
While Florida law protects the identities of the minor victims, causing some court filings to be withheld from the public, Johnson’s redacted arrest reports paint a grim picture of a man who allegedly used his political status and promises of phantom wealth to exploit vulnerable children.