Trump-Pardoned Capitol Rioter Receives Life Sentence for Child Sex Crimes
A Florida man who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing two children. Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, a handyman from Seffner, Florida, was convicted last month on multiple charges related to the molestation of minors.
Disturbing Tactics to Silence Victims
According to a sheriff's office report, Johnson allegedly used his pardon status as a manipulative tactic to keep his child victims quiet. He reportedly told one victim that he expected to receive financial compensation for being a pardoned January 6 defendant and promised to include the child in his will to inherit any leftover money.
Investigators believe this was a calculated strategy to prevent the child from exposing the abuse. The report stated the tactic was "believed to be used to keep (the child) from exposing what Andrew had done."
Timeline of Abuse and Legal Proceedings
The abuse reportedly began around April 2024, several months before Johnson was sentenced for his Capitol riot conviction. In August 2024, Chief US District Court Judge James Boasberg sentenced Johnson to one year in prison after he pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges related to the January 6 insurrection.
Johnson had attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming he was pressured into it, but the judge rejected his request before sentencing. His conviction for the Capitol riot was subsequently quashed when Donald Trump returned to office last year and issued sweeping pardons for January 6 defendants.
Evidence and Conviction Details
According to prosecutors in Hernando County, Florida, Johnson was convicted of two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child and one count of electronically transmitting material harmful to a minor. Investigators found sexually explicit messages that Johnson exchanged with one of his victims on the Discord messaging app.
Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson's office revealed that in these messages, Johnson attempted to have the victim download another application for more private conversations and encouraged the victim to delete their messages afterwards.
January 6 Involvement and Broader Context
Johnson was among the thousands of Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. According to federal prosecutors, he attended Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally near the White House before marching to the Capitol carrying a bullhorn.
He entered the building through an office window that other rioters had smashed and reportedly cursed and yelled at police officers after they used tear gas to disperse the mob. Johnson is among several January 6 defendants who have been charged with new crimes since Trump's sweeping act of clemency for Capitol rioters.
On his first day back in the White House last year, Trump pardoned, commuted prison sentences, or ordered the dismissal of cases for all 1,500-plus people charged in the attack. Johnson's case highlights the controversial nature of these pardons and their unintended consequences.
Investigation and Sentencing
Sheriff's deputies began investigating Johnson again just months after his release from prison for the January 6 charges. They proved child molestation allegations against him in July 2025, leading to his recent conviction and life sentence.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the connection between the Capitol riot pardons and subsequent serious criminal behavior. Legal experts note that this situation raises important questions about the vetting process for presidential pardons and their potential impact on public safety.
