Pardoned Capitol Rioter Tried to Hush Child Sex Victim With Promise of Jan. 6 Reparation Money, Police Say

A former pardoned Capitol rioter is now facing sex crimes charges against two children, highlighting the disturbing trend of those involved in the January 6, 2021, insurrection being charged with child sexual abuse.

Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, was one of the 1,500 people charged in connection with the riots on January 6. He pleaded guilty to violent entry into a restricted building and disorderly conduct but attempted to take back his plea months later. After President Donald Trump pardoned him in January 2025, Johnson was arraigned in Florida court on multiple charges of child sex abuse, including molesting a 11-year-old.

Johnson allegedly used the prospect of receiving $10 million as part of reparations for his January 6 arrest to intimidate one of the children into silence. He claimed he would put the victim in his will to receive any money left after his death, with police believing this was done to keep the child from exposing what Andrew had done.

Johnson faces two criminal cases in county court, one for each child, and has pleaded not guilty. His trials are set to start early next year. Two other Capitol rioters have also been charged with child sex crimes: David Daniel and another defendant whose name has not been released due to a lack of public records on the case.

This case highlights the growing list of pardoned January 6 rioters who now face new legal trouble, including those convicted of sexual crimes against children. Trump's pardon policy has created a sense of impunity among some former rioters, emboldening them to continue committing crimes and threatening innocent lives.

The incident also raises questions about Trump's motivations for pardoning these individuals and the lack of accountability among his administration. As The Intercept noted in a recent editorial, "This is not hyperbole: Court orders are being ignored... News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation." The pardon policy has created an authoritarian takeover of the US government, stripping Congress of its power and undermining democratic institutions.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability and transparency in the US government. As The Intercept continues to cover this story and hold those in power accountable, we invite you to join us in our mission to defend democracy and press freedom.

omg this is just so messed up I mean what's going on with these people who get pardoned for rioting but then go around committing child sex abuse? it's like they think they're above the law or something and now we're facing a whole new level of disturbing crimes because of Trump's pardon policy. it just goes to show how impunity can be so damaging

I think Trump's pardon policy is a total game-changer, it's like a fresh start for these guys and they should be totally grateful . I mean, who gets $10 million as part of reparations? That's some serious cash, Andrew Paul Johnson must have been counting down the days till he could use that money to, you know, take care of his kids or something . And if one of them was gonna expose him, well, that just proves how innocent and law-abiding he is . I don't see anything wrong with this whole pardon thing, it's like a big hug for the country .

This is just so messed up... Like what kind of monster tries to use a kid's life as leverage for cash? And the fact that it's someone who was pardoned by Trump makes me think about how power can corrupt even well-intentioned people . It's not like Johnson was some random guy off the street, he had access to influence and resources because of his involvement in the Capitol riot. And now we're seeing these kinds of cases popping up left and right... it's like Trump's pardon policy is just enabling this kind of toxic behavior .

I'm also worried about how this reflects on our society as a whole. Do we really value accountability enough? Shouldn't there be consequences for people who abuse their power and manipulate others? It feels like we're missing the bigger picture here... what's driving someone to do something so twisted? Is it just a desire for attention, or is there something deeper going on?

Dude, can't believe what's going on with these Capitol rioters They're getting pardoned left and right and then suddenly they're accused of the most heinous crimes... like child sex abuse It's just not adding up. I mean, have you seen all the pardons Trump has been giving out? It's like he's playing a game of "who can get away with the most" And now we find out that some of these people are even using their newfound "freedom" to intimidate and harm kids... it's just sickening. I'm not saying Trump is a bad guy or anything, but what's going on here? Is he actually trying to create a culture of impunity among his supporters? It's like the US government is being taken over by some kind of authoritarian takeover Anyway, this whole thing just smells fishy to me...

Man I'm just so sad about this one . These people who rioted at the Capitol are already a huge red flag and now they're being charged with child sex abuse? It's just heartbreaking . And it's even more messed up that some of them were pardoned by Trump and thought they could get away with it. I mean, $10 million is a lot of money, but that's not worth the future of two innocent kids .

It's crazy to think about how these people have been given this kind of power and then used it for their own twisted desires. It's like, what even is the point of having freedom if you're just gonna use it to hurt others? And now we're dealing with the consequences of Trump's actions, which are devastating.

We need more accountability and transparency in our government, like seriously how can this happen under someone's watch? It's not okay that some people feel like they can get away with this stuff. We need to stand together and fight for what's right, especially when it comes to protecting the vulnerable.

this is just so heartbreaking, but at the same time i see it as a wake-up call for us all... like, how can someone who's already been given a second chance after being involved in a violent riot end up committing these heinous crimes against children? it's just not right... but we gotta ask ourselves, what kind of system allows this to happen?

i'm not gonna sit here and bash anyone's pardoning policies or Trump's admin, 'cause that's just not productive... but i do think it's time for us to have some real conversations about accountability and transparency in our government. we need more voices like The Intercept holding those in power accountable and pushing for change.

and honestly, this whole situation is making me wanna believe in the goodness of humanity a little bit more... 'cause there are people out there who genuinely care about justice and want to see it done right. so let's keep spreading love, positivity, and awareness

This case is just another example of how some people think they're above the law, just because they've got a big head . I mean, what's wrong with these Capitol rioters? They couldn't even respect other people's boundaries and now they're going to pay for it... badly . It's like, you go to prison, serve your time, think you've seen the worst of it, and then suddenly you get pardoned just because some guy in a fancy suit says so . Newsflash: that doesn't work! You can't just waltz back into society thinking you're untouchable when you've got a history like this . And what's with the reparations stuff? It's just more manipulation, if you ask me . These people need to be held accountable for their actions and face the consequences .

can't believe trump's pardon policy is creating more problems than it solves

man, thinkin bout this pardoned Capitol rioter facin child sex abuse charges... what's goin on here? Is it just that Trump's pardon policy is like a get out of jail free card for these people? or is there somethin deeper at play? Like, is this some kind of twisted reward system where the more crimes you commit, the more power and influence you get?

and then you got these kids facin trauma and pain... it's like, what's the value of one life against another? Is it just a number on a spreadsheet for Trump's team? or is this somethin that's worth actually takin time to think about?

I mean, I'm not sayin we should be makin assumptions here... but there's somethin fishy goin on with these pardons. And the fact that they're facin child sex abuse charges just adds another layer of complexity to it all. It's like, how can we trust the system when it seems like there's no accountability for those in power?

man this is wild Andrew Johnson's whole situation is just insane... like, pardoned for riots and then hits these kids with child sex abuse charges what's going on? Trump's pardon policy is literally creating a culture of impunity among these guys and it's terrifying... I mean, if someone did this to my kid or anyone else's kid, they'd be in prison forever but apparently, these dudes are getting off scot-free...

This is so messed up. I mean, one minute you're trying to storm a building and cause chaos, the next you're facing charges for child sex abuse? It's like, what even is going on here? And then there's this whole pardoning thing... it's like Trump is giving these people a free pass just because they were part of his crew. I don't think that's right at all. These people need to be held accountable for their actions. It's not about party politics, it's about justice and protecting the innocent. We can't let people who have committed crimes get away with it just because they have connections or are part of a certain group. I'm so tired of this kind of thing happening in our country.

This is absolutely shocking and disturbing I mean, can't believe that someone who was involved in such a violent act like the January 6th insurrection is now facing these heinous charges of child sex abuse It's not just about Andrew Johnson, but also about the broader trend of pardoned Capitol rioters being charged with similar crimes. The fact that Trump's pardon policy has created this sense of impunity and emboldened people to commit more crimes is alarming

The motivations behind these pardons are still unclear and it raises so many questions about accountability and transparency within the US government. It seems like there's been a lack of oversight and checks on power, which is concerning The fact that journalists who challenge Trump have been silenced or under investigation is also unacceptable

This case highlights the urgent need for reform and ensuring that those in positions of power are held accountable for their actions We need to see more transparency and accountability from our government, especially when it comes to pardons and the treatment of individuals who have committed heinous crimes against children

I'm shocked by this latest development - a former pardoned Capitol rioter now facing child sex abuse charges is just the tip of the iceberg ! It's like he thought that getting a pardon from Trump would shield him from accountability . Newsflash: freedom doesn't mean immunity from justice ! The fact that these individuals are emboldened to commit crimes because they've got a get-out-of-jail-free card is just disturbing . We need real change in our government, not just empty pardons and lack of accountability #JusticeForTheVictims #HoldThePresidentAccountable #TransparencyMatters

Can't believe what's happening right now... it's like the system is broken A guy who was part of a violent insurrection and got pardoned by Trump is now facing child sex abuse charges And get this, he allegedly used the promise of $10 million as leverage to keep one kid quiet This whole situation stinks, and it's like Trump's pardon policy is giving these people a free pass to commit more crimes The fact that two other Capitol rioters are also being charged with child sex crimes just highlights how out of control things have gotten We need real accountability and transparency in our government, not just empty promises

This is getting super concerning, fam! A pardoned Capitol rioter gets charged with sex crimes against kids? It's like, what even is going on here?! I mean, Trump's pardon policy was supposed to help people move on from their past mistakes, but now it seems like it's just emboldening them to commit more crimes. Like, how can someone who's already shown they're willing to break the law, suddenly be granted a free pass? And what about the victims?! This case is just another reminder that we need stricter accountability and transparency in our government. We need to make sure those in power are held responsible for their actions, not given a get-out-of-jail-free card.