A pardoned January 6th rioter allegedly used his presidential clemency as leverage to silence a child victim, promising fabricated payouts from a claimed $10 million “Jan. 6 award” while committing ongoing molestation.

When Presidential Pardons Meet State Courtrooms

Andrew Paul Johnson thought his presidential pardon was a golden ticket to freedom. The 44-year-old January 6th rioter received clemency from President Trump in early 2025, wiping away his federal conviction for breaking into the Capitol and menacing police officers. But Johnson’s freedom came to an abrupt end in July when Florida authorities arrested him on charges that no presidential pardon can touch: child molestation.

Johnson’s case exposes a critical gap in the sweeping pardons Trump issued for over 1,500 January 6th defendants. While federal clemency erased their Capitol riot convictions, it provides zero protection against state crimes. Johnson now sits in a Hernando County jail, facing charges of lewd and lascivious molestation, exhibition, and transmitting harmful material to a minor.

Host: A man pardoned by Trump for storming the Capitol on January 6th was arrested in August and charged with sex crimes against two children. One of the victims, an 11 year old boy, said 44-year-old Andrew Paul Johnson molested him three times pic.twitter.com/UsaTReJ0l4

— FactPost (@factpostnews) November 19, 2025

The $10 Million Lie That Backfired

Court documents reveal Johnson’s brazen attempt to weaponize his pardon status. According to prosecutors, Johnson told his alleged victim that he would receive $10 million from the government for his January 6th pardon. He promised to include the child in his will and share this fabricated windfall, but only if the victim remained silent about the ongoing abuse that allegedly began in 2024.

The Hernando County prosecutor handling the case emphasized the severity of these charges, stating they treat crimes against children with “utmost importance” and will seek “the full weight of justice.” Johnson has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial on February 9, 2026. If released on bond, he must wear GPS monitoring and appear for all court proceedings.

A Pattern Emerges Among the Pardoned

Johnson represents the tip of a disturbing iceberg. According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, at least 33 pardoned January 6th rioters now face additional criminal charges. Six of these cases involve child sex crimes, including assault and pornography charges. The pattern extends beyond sexual offenses to include threats against public officials, burglary, weapons violations, and even DUI fatalities.

President Trump dismissed these cases as isolated incidents, claiming “one goes haywire” among thousands of pardons. However, the documented pattern tells a different story. Zachary Alam faces home invasion charges with a 2025 conviction. Christopher Moynihan was arrested in October for threatening to kill Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. John Banuelos was charged with kidnapping after a 2018 DNA match surfaced during summer 2025.

The High Cost of Blanket Clemency

The mass pardons bypassed traditional Department of Justice review processes and eliminated parole monitoring for dangerous offenders. This removal of oversight has created what CREW describes as “significant public safety threats” to communities nationwide. Johnson’s transient lifestyle, living in a van when arrested, exemplifies how some pardoned rioters have fallen through society’s safety nets entirely.

The timing of Johnson’s alleged crimes adds another troubling dimension. The molestation reportedly began in 2024 and continued after his pardon, suggesting the clemency may have emboldened rather than reformed him. His use of the pardon narrative to intimidate a child victim reveals how presidential mercy can become a tool for further victimization.

Sources:

Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter Andrew Johnson to face criminal trial for child molestation

Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter arrested on child molestation charges, adding to pattern

At least 33 pardoned insurrectionists face other criminal charges, but many are now going free