Pardoned January 6 rioter faces charges for bribing child sex abuse victim with financial payout.
A man previously pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots is now facing legal consequences again, this time on serious charges related to child sexual abuse. Andrew Paul Johnson, 35, is under investigation for allegedly attempting to bribe a minor who is a victim of sexual abuse with the promise of financial rewards from a purported government payout.
The investigation, initiated in July, was prompted after the victim’s mother discovered disturbing messages on her son’s Discord account. The messages revealed inappropriate conversations between her child, who was 11 years old at the time of the incidents, and Johnson, her ex-boyfriend. The affidavit details that the molestation took place on three occasions between April and October 2024. Following the second incident, the child confronted Johnson, who reportedly expressed remorse and begged the boy not to disclose the abuse, citing concerns about the potential legal ramifications he might face.
Johnson allegedly informed the victim that he was set to receive a substantial financial reward—rumored to be around million—due to his pardon related to the January 6 events. According to the affidavit, he proposed to include the boy in his will, suggesting that any excess funds would be directed to him. This manipulation is believed to be a tactic to prevent the victim from reporting the abuses to authorities.
On January 6, 2021, a group of supporters of then-President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. In the aftermath of those events, over 1,500 individuals were charged; most of them received pardons from Trump. Although Trump has hinted at the possibility of compensations for these individuals, no payments have materialized thus far.
Johnson was arrested in Tennessee in August and subsequently extradited to Florida. He currently faces multiple charges including lewd and lascivious molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and transmission of harmful materials to a minor. The ongoing legal proceedings not only raise significant concerns regarding the welfare of the victim but also highlight the broader implications of pardoning individuals tied to criminal activities associated with political demonstrations. The case continues to unfold, capturing national attention as it intersects issues of child safety and accountability within the legal system.
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