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

A man who was pardoned for his role in the January 6 US Capitol riot has been charged with serious sex crimes against two children. Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, is facing multiple charges including molesting a child as young as 11 years old and exhibiting himself to minors.

Johnson had claimed that one of the victims could receive $10 million in reparations for his role in the January 6 riot, which he believed entitled him to the funds. However, Trump's pardon does not come with any guarantees or reparations.

Police believe Johnson offered to put one of the alleged victims in his will to keep them quiet about the abuse. The charges against Johnson are based on two separate cases involving children under the age of 16, and he has pleaded not guilty. His trials are set to start early next year.

The pardoning of individuals involved in January 6 has led to a growing list of U.S. Capitol rioters who now face new legal trouble. Many have joined an online community that defends them from allegations or joins them in casting blame on others.

Johnson's case highlights the risks faced by those accused of sex crimes, particularly when they are part of a community that denies their wrongdoing and instead shifts blame onto others. The case is also a stark reminder that even those who claim to be victims of abuse can face serious consequences.

The pardoning of Johnson is one in a series of controversial moves made by President Trump in the lead-up to his second term, including pardons for individuals involved in the January 6 riot and other crimes. The move has sparked outrage among lawmakers and advocacy groups who see it as an attempt to silence critics and undermine accountability.

As the situation continues to unfold, concerns are growing about the impact of Trump's actions on democracy and the rule of law. The case against Johnson serves as a reminder that even in the wake of controversy and outrage, justice must still be served, and those responsible for heinous crimes will face consequences.

This is so messed up . I mean, pardoning someone who was involved in the January 6 riot and then they go out and commit these heinous sex crimes? It's like, what even is the logic behind that? They were trying to get away with their own stuff, and now they're putting innocent kids at risk of serious harm. And the fact that they thought they could just use the pardon to get rich off someone else's abuse is just disgusting .

I'm also really worried about the message this sends to others who might be tempted to do the same thing. It's like, if you can commit a crime and then just claim to be a victim of something else, you'll never face consequences. That's not how justice works, folks! We need to hold people accountable for their actions, no matter what they claim.

I'm drawing a diagram right now... [ASCII art: a broken chain with a red X through it] This is a clear case of accountability failing and the rule of law being undermined. We can't let this kind of thing slide, not even in the face of controversy or outrage. Justice must be served, no matter what!

I'm seriously frustrated with how this is all going down . First, Trump pardons these people who were involved in the US Capitol riot, and now one of them is being charged with some serious sex crimes? It's just not right. The fact that they're trying to spin it like Johnson was motivated by a desire for reparations from his role in the riot is just ridiculous . And what really gets me is how this online community of Capitol rioters is defending these people and shifting blame onto others. It's like they think they can just waltz away with their freedom because they've got a buddy who's got influence? Newsflash: that's not how justice works .

I'm literally shook by this news! Like, how could someone who was pardoned by Trump do such horrible things to innocent kids?! The fact that Johnson thought he could just manipulate the system by threatening a child with money and now faces serious sex crimes is just disgusting.

As much as I love Donald Trump, I gotta say his actions on this case are messed up. Like, who pardons someone for rioting and then they go out and commit sex crimes?! It's like, what were you thinking, Trump?! The fact that he's trying to silence critics with these pardons is super concerning.

I'm all about holding people accountable, especially when it comes to serious crimes like this. Justice must be served, and I just hope the system works as it should . This case is like, a harsh reminder that everyone's guilty until proven innocent, you know?

I mean come on, a guy who gets pardoned by Trump just to try and keep quiet about some pretty messed up stuff is still out there causing problems? Like what's next? You're telling me this dude was part of the riot and now he's got these serious sex crimes charges, but it's all because he thought his pardon would get him some kinda handout for being a Trump supporter? It's so messed up. And then there are all these other Capitol rioters who think they're above the law just because they were part of that crazy day. Newsflash: just 'cause you've got a "I'm with Trump" t-shirt doesn't mean you can go around breaking the law and hurting people.

And what really gets me is when these guys try to blame others or make excuses for their own sick behavior. Like, no, dude, your actions have consequences, even if they're protected by some twisted sense of loyalty to a certain president. It's not about being a "free spirit" who can do whatever you want; it's about respecting the law and respecting other people's rights.

And then there are the victims – poor kids who've been traumatized by this guy's actions. They deserve justice, plain and simple. We need to make sure that no one gets away with heinous crimes like this just because of some misplaced sense of loyalty or allegiance to a politician.

can't believe trump is at it again pardoning people who committed such heinous crimes and now they're facing new charges like sex crimes...it's just not right. what's the point of having a system if you can just pardon someone and then let them commit more crimes? it's not like they're getting any kinda reparation for being involved in jan 6 anyway, that was just a way to silence critics. but now these people are facing serious consequences, like sex crimes...it's like the pendulum swung too far one way and now they're on the other side it's a slippery slope when we start letting people get away with stuff like this. we need better accountability systems in place so that justice is served for all victims, not just some who are part of the "wrong" crowd

I'm not buying into all this outrage around Andrew Paul Johnson ... like yeah, the guy's been charged with some serious crimes, no doubt about it. But is it really fair to connect his pardon from Trump to these allegations? I mean, Trump said he was pardoning people for their loyalty, and that's what it sounds like, not a cover-up for sex abuse charges ... the guy was already in trouble for the Capitol riot, maybe this just caught up with him. And those victims are getting $10 million? That seems pretty harsh to me ... and I'm all for holding people accountable, but shouldn't we be giving them a chance to plead their case too?

Ugh I'm literally shaking right now thinking about this guy Andrew Paul Johnson 44 yrs old man is like trying to buy his way out of jail by claiming one of the kids got $10 million from January 6 riot what's wrong with these ppl?! This is just a total slap in the face to all the real victims of abuse and trauma, especially children He thought he could just get away with it and hide behind his pardon from Trump like that's gonna save him now? His trials are gonna be so dramatic I hope justice is served ASAP

Can't believe someone who was already lucky enough to get a pardon from Trump is now facing serious charges like this. It's wild how some people think they can just game the system to avoid accountability... meanwhile, victims are left to deal with the trauma and abuse all over again

This is so sad what's happening with Andrew Paul Johnson . I cant believe someone who was given a free pass by Trump would do something like this to two innocent kids . It just goes to show that pardons don't come with a guarantee of good behavior . The fact that he tried to use the January 6 riot as an excuse to get away with his crimes is just disgusting . And now we have to deal with the aftermath and make sure justice is served . It's a reminder that everyone deserves a fair trial and punishment for their actions, no matter who they are or what community they belong to . The online community defending him just makes things worse .

this pardon thing is getting out of hand... Trump thinks he's above the law? I mean, I get it, people wanna protect their buddies, but come on! When someone commits sex crimes against kids, that's a whole different level of serious. And now they're trying to use the "January 6 riot" thing as some kinda get outta jail free card? Not cool, dude. The fact that this guy was pardoned in the first place is already shady, and now he's facing more charges... it's just not right. We need to hold people accountable for their actions, regardless of who they are or what group they're part of. Justice should be blind, you know?

Ugh, can't believe what's going on with this guy Andrew Paul Johnson ... I mean, pardoned for the January 6th riot and now he's facing serious sex crimes? It just seems so wrong, you know? Like, what were they thinking when they gave him that pardon? It's like he thought he could get away with whatever he wanted. And now these kids are going through all this trauma because of his actions... it's just heartbreaking . And the fact that he was even trying to use the riot as an excuse to keep them quiet is just disgusting . I swear, it feels like we're living in some bad 80s movie or something . Remember when we used to worry about stuff like this? Now it seems like everyone's just numb to it ...

This is just another dark chapter in the US Capitol riot saga. I'm so worried about the victims, especially the young ones . It's like Trump's pardon has opened a Pandora's box of troubles for these people. The fact that one guy thought he could silence his alleged victim by offering them a hefty sum and a spot in his will is just disgusting . And now, the online community defending him is just a bunch of toxic drama . This case is a stark reminder that accountability matters, even if it's hard to hear . We need to make sure justice is served for these victims and hold people like Johnson accountable for their actions .

OMG this is so messed up I cant believe a guy who was pardoned by Trump got charged with serious sex crimes like how did his case even get reopened? And what's with the weird thing about him trying to pay one of the victims $10 million and putting them in his will lol what kind of twisted logic is that?! Anyway, its super disturbing when people try to silence victims by offering them money or threats, it just highlights how messed up the system can be. Fingers crossed justice gets served for these poor kids

just watched this news and i'm so disgusted... 10 million bucks in reparations is not worth sacrificing children's safety to protect some politician's ego . pardon or no pardon, ppl who commit serious sex crimes gotta face justice. online communities defending them are just making it worse, shifting blame and fueling more harm. this whole situation with trump's pardons is a real concern, ppl have got to hold him accountable for his actions...

I'm so confused about this pardon thingy... how can someone get pardoned for doing something bad like that January 6 riot, but then they do something even worse? It's like, what's the point of having a pardon if it doesn't make you a good person or anything? And why did Trump think giving him a pardon was a good idea? Was he trying to help him or...? Anyway, I don't get how this works... can someone explain it to me like I'm 10?

I'm so disappointed in what I just read . A person who was already given a second chance after being involved in the US Capitol riot is now facing charges that could ruin their life forever. It's like they thought they were above the law, that their actions on January 6th didn't matter. But here's the thing: his pardon doesn't give him immunity from justice . And to think he was trying to strong-arm one of his victims into silence by offering them a big chunk of money? That's despicable .

What really gets me is that there are people out there who will still defend someone like Johnson, claiming they're the real victim. Newsflash: no one deserves to be treated this way, especially not children . We need to make sure those who have been hurt by these kinds of crimes get the justice they deserve.

And let's not forget, this isn't just about Johnson or even Trump – it's about our collective values as a society. Do we want to create a culture where predators think they can hide behind a pardon and a big mouth? No way . We need to stand up for those who are being silenced and make sure justice is served .

this is just so messed up... like who thought it was a good idea to pardon someone who committed such heinous crimes and then they go on to commit even more? it's not just about the justice system failing us, it's about how these people are being enabled by a community that's supposed to be about America's values but instead is just protecting their own.

can't believe the pardoning of someone with a history like this, it's just sickening. I mean, I get it, Trump wants to play it safe but come on, this guy was facing serious prison time for his role in the riot and now he gets to walk free while potentially hurting two innocent kids . It's not about silence or accountability, it's about basic human decency. The online community defending him is just a bunch of toxic nonsense, they're more worried about covering their own backsides than doing what's right . We need to focus on holding people like Johnson accountable for their actions and making sure our justice system is working for everyone, not just the powerful .

OMG, like I'm literally shaking my head ... can't believe some ppl think pardons are an excuse to do whatever they want without consequence. The fact that this guy was part of the Jan 6 riot and now faces these serious sex crimes is just crazy . And what's with the whole $10 million thing? Like, no way should someone get paid for their wrongdoing, especially when it comes to harming kids . This case is a total reminder that we need to hold ppl accountable for their actions, no matter how powerful or influential they are .