A Florida man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot has been arrested on child molestation charges.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, was taken into custody in Tennessee in August and extradited to Florida, where he faces charges including lewd and lascivious molestation, exhibition, and transmitting harmful material to a minor. Authorities say the investigation began in July after a parent discovered inappropriate Discord messages between Johnson and her child.
According to an arrest affidavit, the child alleged Johnson molested him multiple times in 2024, beginning when he was 11. Investigators say Johnson apologized and urged the child to remain silent, allegedly sending him an iPhone and suggesting he would share money from an anticipated Jan. 6-related payout. Officials believe the promise was intended to prevent the abuse from being reported.
Johnson was among roughly 1,500 individuals pardoned this year for offenses tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He had pleaded guilty in 2024 to disorderly conduct after breaching the building during the riot.
He is scheduled to return to court Dec. 10. Authorities noted that other individuals pardoned in connection with Jan. 6 have also recently faced new criminal charges.
Source: NBC NEWS
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