Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, a pardoned Jan. 6 defendant, was arrested and extradited to Florida on multiple child-sex charges. Authorities allege he molested a boy three times beginning when the child was 11 and tried to silence him by sending an iPhone and promising a $10 million Jan. 6 payout and inclusion in his will. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to Jan. 6 charges in April 2024 and was pardoned; he is due back in court on Dec. 10. Officials say no Jan. 6 payout has been verified.
Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested on Child-Molestation Charges; Allegedly Promised Victim $10M Payout
Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, a pardoned Jan. 6 defendant, was arrested and extradited to Florida on multiple child-sex charges. Authorities allege he molested a boy three times beginning when the child was 11 and tried to silence him by sending an iPhone and promising a $10 million Jan. 6 payout and inclusion in his will. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to Jan. 6 charges in April 2024 and was pardoned; he is due back in court on Dec. 10. Officials say no Jan. 6 payout has been verified.
01:38 AM, 11/19/2025Conflict
Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested on Child-Molestation Charges
Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, who received a presidential pardon this year for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach, was arrested in Tennessee in August and extradited to Florida on multiple child-sexual-offense charges, according to local authorities.
Johnson faces counts that include lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition and transmission of material harmful to a minor. Authorities allege the abuse occurred three times between April and October 2024 and began when the victim was 11 years old.
Alleged attempts to silence the victim
Investigators say the victim's mother discovered an inappropriate conversation in her son's Discord messages and reported it to Hernando County deputies. The arrest affidavit states Johnson apologized when confronted, warned the child not to tell anyone, mailed the child an iPhone and encouraged secrecy.
The affidavit also quotes messages in which Johnson allegedly claimed that because he had been pardoned for storming the Capitol and was being awarded $10,000,000 as a result of being a "jan 6’er," he planned to include the boy in his will to receive any remaining funds. Authorities say that promise appeared intended to discourage the child from reporting the alleged abuse. Officials note there has been no verified payout to Jan. 6 participants.
Background: Jan. 6 prosecution and pardon
Johnson was previously arrested in 2022 on four charges related to the Capitol breach after authorities say he entered the building through a broken window. Court documents from that case describe him using names such as "American Terrorist" and "Proud j6er," and say he engaged in disruptive conduct for hours while urging others to push through doors and continue the attack. He pleaded guilty in April 2024 and subsequently received a presidential pardon.
Johnson is scheduled to appear in Florida court on Dec. 10 to face the child-molestation charges.
Wider context
Authorities say this arrest comes amid other recent cases involving people pardoned for Jan. 6-related offenses, including separate arrests on kidnapping, sexual-assault and alleged threats toward public officials. The federal government separately reached a settlement of just under $5 million with the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot during the Jan. 6 riot.
Note: The charges described here are allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.