A former January 6 rioter has been charged with sex crimes against two children, highlighting the dark side of those who participated in the Capitol storming. Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, was pardoned by President Donald Trump after being convicted of violently entering the Capitol and disorderly conduct. However, Johnson's pardon did not shield him from facing charges related to child molestation.
According to a police report, Johnson allegedly threatened one of his victims into silence by offering her $10 million in reparations for his January 6 arrest, which was intended as a quid pro quo for keeping quiet about the abuse. He claimed that if she spoke out, he would leave her his entire estate worth $10 million.
Prosecutors say Johnson molested a child as young as 11 years old and asked another minor for sex. In court documents, it was revealed that Johnson exposed himself to one of the victims in person, showed them lewd photographs, and encouraged children to engage in sex acts with him.
Johnson's crimes were discovered after an investigation revealed he had been using Discord to communicate with a child under 16, who told police about the abuse. The second alleged victim claimed Johnson referred to himself as a "pedophile" during their online interactions.
This case joins a growing list of pardoned January 6 rioters facing new legal troubles, including those convicted of sexual crimes against children. While some have attempted to spin their own versions of events or receive sympathy from conservative media outlets, others have been met with outrage and condemnation from the public.
The Trump administration has faced criticism for its handling of pardons, particularly when it comes to those accused of serious crimes like child molestation. With numerous high-profile cases now under scrutiny, concerns are being raised about whether the pardoning process is adequate in identifying potential threats to public safety.
In a broader context, the January 6 riot and subsequent pardoning spree have sparked controversy over Trump's influence on American politics. Critics argue that his actions amount to an authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government, while supporters maintain that he is simply fighting against perceived injustices.
As The Intercept continues to cover these complex issues, we rely on your support to continue reporting on press freedom and the defense of democracy.
According to a police report, Johnson allegedly threatened one of his victims into silence by offering her $10 million in reparations for his January 6 arrest, which was intended as a quid pro quo for keeping quiet about the abuse. He claimed that if she spoke out, he would leave her his entire estate worth $10 million.
Prosecutors say Johnson molested a child as young as 11 years old and asked another minor for sex. In court documents, it was revealed that Johnson exposed himself to one of the victims in person, showed them lewd photographs, and encouraged children to engage in sex acts with him.
Johnson's crimes were discovered after an investigation revealed he had been using Discord to communicate with a child under 16, who told police about the abuse. The second alleged victim claimed Johnson referred to himself as a "pedophile" during their online interactions.
This case joins a growing list of pardoned January 6 rioters facing new legal troubles, including those convicted of sexual crimes against children. While some have attempted to spin their own versions of events or receive sympathy from conservative media outlets, others have been met with outrage and condemnation from the public.
The Trump administration has faced criticism for its handling of pardons, particularly when it comes to those accused of serious crimes like child molestation. With numerous high-profile cases now under scrutiny, concerns are being raised about whether the pardoning process is adequate in identifying potential threats to public safety.
In a broader context, the January 6 riot and subsequent pardoning spree have sparked controversy over Trump's influence on American politics. Critics argue that his actions amount to an authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government, while supporters maintain that he is simply fighting against perceived injustices.
As The Intercept continues to cover these complex issues, we rely on your support to continue reporting on press freedom and the defense of democracy.
. I mean, Andrew Paul Johnson was pardoned by Trump after being convicted of violent stuff at the Capitol, but now he's charged with sex crimes against kids? It's like, how does that even work? Did the pardon just automatically get revoked or something? And what's up with him trying to buy his way out of it by offering $10 million to one of the victims? That's just twisted. 
10 million dollars in reparations for keeping quiet about child abuse? 
that's just twisted 
and $10 million estate left behind as a quid pro quo? 
totally unacceptable 
the public needs to wake up and demand accountability from politicians 
and Trump's actions are just shady 
and it made me think about how some people can be so talented with words but also really bad at making good decisions, like this guy Andrew Paul Johnson... I mean, $10 million in reparations for not speaking out against him? That's just weird 
.
seems like trump's pardon just opened a whole can of worms... these ppl need to be held accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to kids 
. This is why we need better background checks on pardons, it's clear they weren't thorough enough 
.