Capitol rioter pardoned by Trump convicted of child sex abuse

"A Florida man pardoned by President Trump after storming the U.S. Capitol in 2021 has been convicted of sex crimes involving two children. Andrew Paul Johnson, a 45-year-old handyman, was found guilty on Tuesday of five charges, including the molestation of one victim under the age of 12 and another under 16, Hernando County prosecutors announced on Wednesday. He was also convicted of lewd and lascivious exhibition and electronically transmitting material harmful to a minor."

"Johnson faces a 25-year minimum sentence, but could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Johnson was arrested last August after police began investigating reports that he'd inappropriately touched two minor victims. One, who said the abuse began in 2024 when he was 11 years old, showed investigators a cellphone given to him by Johnson so that they could communicate in secret. Prosecutors said authorities also found evidence of sexually explicit messaging on one of the victims' computers."

"Johnson was said to have encouraged that child to take measures to hide the inappropriate content. During an interview with law enforcement and child advocacy specialists, the first victim reportedly recounted specific details of events as well as various locations where these acts occurred. The other victim was said to have been present during some of those illegal encounters, according to prosecutors."

Andrew Paul Johnson, a 45-year-old Florida handyman pardoned by President Trump after participating in the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach, was convicted on five charges related to sexual offenses against two minors. Convictions include molestation of one victim under 12, another under 16, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and electronically transmitting material harmful to a minor. Investigators allege abuse began in 2024 when an 11-year-old victim received a cellphone from Johnson to communicate secretly, and explicit messaging was found on a victim's computer. Victim statements and corroboration indicated multiple locations and instances of abuse, and Johnson allegedly attempted to bribe a victim.

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