A pardoned January 6 rioter faces a new trial for child molestation charges, a case that has left many in the community shocked and outraged. Andrew Johnson, 44, was among over 1,500 defendants pardoned by former President Trump in July, but his conviction on federal charges related to the Capitol riot was not enough to shield him from a new prosecution.
According to court documents reviewed by CBS News, Johnson is accused of molesting a minor over several months in Hernando County, Florida, and is currently being held in custody before his trial date of February 9. The alleged victim's identity has not been released due to concerns for their safety.
Johnson's defense team has maintained his innocence, but the prosecution alleges that he tried to silence the alleged victim by offering a payout. A police affidavit states that Johnson told the victim that he had been pardoned for storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and was being awarded $10 million as a result of being a "Jan 6er." The affidavit also alleges that Johnson said he would be including the victim in his will.
The case is particularly egregious given Johnson's previous conviction and sentence for his role in the January 6 riot. He pleaded guilty to four federal charges related to the siege and was sentenced to one year in prison, but Trump's pardon wiped away his conviction and reduced his sentence to time served.
If convicted on child molestation charges, Johnson would face significant penalties, including lengthy prison time and registration as a sex offender. His attorney has not commented on the case, but prosecutors are emphasizing the severity of the allegations and the need for accountability.
This case is part of a growing trend of pardoned January 6 riot defendants facing new post-pardon criminal charges. Other defendants, such as Zachary Alam and Christopher Moynihan, have been arrested and charged with crimes unrelated to their involvement in the Capitol riot.
The incident raises questions about the limits of presidential power and the accountability of those who have committed crimes. While Trump's pardon may have protected Johnson from prosecution on federal charges related to the January 6 riot, it has not shielded him from facing justice for other crimes. The case will serve as a reminder that no one is above the law, not even those with ties to the Capitol riot.
According to court documents reviewed by CBS News, Johnson is accused of molesting a minor over several months in Hernando County, Florida, and is currently being held in custody before his trial date of February 9. The alleged victim's identity has not been released due to concerns for their safety.
Johnson's defense team has maintained his innocence, but the prosecution alleges that he tried to silence the alleged victim by offering a payout. A police affidavit states that Johnson told the victim that he had been pardoned for storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and was being awarded $10 million as a result of being a "Jan 6er." The affidavit also alleges that Johnson said he would be including the victim in his will.
The case is particularly egregious given Johnson's previous conviction and sentence for his role in the January 6 riot. He pleaded guilty to four federal charges related to the siege and was sentenced to one year in prison, but Trump's pardon wiped away his conviction and reduced his sentence to time served.
If convicted on child molestation charges, Johnson would face significant penalties, including lengthy prison time and registration as a sex offender. His attorney has not commented on the case, but prosecutors are emphasizing the severity of the allegations and the need for accountability.
This case is part of a growing trend of pardoned January 6 riot defendants facing new post-pardon criminal charges. Other defendants, such as Zachary Alam and Christopher Moynihan, have been arrested and charged with crimes unrelated to their involvement in the Capitol riot.
The incident raises questions about the limits of presidential power and the accountability of those who have committed crimes. While Trump's pardon may have protected Johnson from prosecution on federal charges related to the January 6 riot, it has not shielded him from facing justice for other crimes. The case will serve as a reminder that no one is above the law, not even those with ties to the Capitol riot.
The fact that Johnson's previous conviction for the January 6 riot was basically wiped away is crazy, and now this new trial is just adding fuel to the fire. It's like, no one's above the law, right? And what's with all these pardoned defendants suddenly getting hit with new charges? 
The system's got some major questions to answer here...
. And I was literally there, in my bedroom, surrounded by empty pizza boxes and soda cans from our family movie nights when I woke up... anyway, this news is super concerning about Andrew Johnson and the whole pardon thing, it's just not right that someone who committed a crime can just be pardoned and then face new charges for something else. And what's with all these people getting pardoned and then facing new charges? It feels like there's no accountability at all 
. By the way, has anyone tried that new burger place downtown? I've been meaning to go back there...
. This new trial for child molestation charges is just devastating. How can we trust that someone who's been convicted of a crime and pardoned by Trump won't do it again? 
The fact that he tried to silence the alleged victim by offering a payout is just despicable 
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. Did Trump think his pardon would be a free pass for everyone who committed crimes? It's not just about Johnson or Trump - it's about accountability and ensuring that no one is above the law 
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. This case needs to be handled with care, and justice needs to be served ASAP 
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. The fact that Johnson tried to silence the alleged victim by offering them money is absolutely despicable 
. It's not just about the punishment, it's about making sure justice is served 
. We need to keep pushing for accountability from our leaders, especially when it comes to protecting the vulnerable 
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. This case needs to be taken seriously and punished accordingly, no matter what happens next 
. It's like, we're supposed to believe that Trump was just trying to help these guys out, but really he might have been protecting himself too 
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. The fact that he tried to silence the victim by offering them money is just horrific 
. This case is making me think about how we need to make sure everyone is held accountable for their actions, no matter who they are or where they came from