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Capitol rioter who was pardoned by Trump gets life sentence for molesting 2 children
Johnson was convicted of five child sex crime counts and sentenced to life in Florida after being pardoned for his Jan. 6 Capitol riot conviction, prosecutors said.
- On March 5, the Office of the State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Florida said Andrew Paul Johnson was sentenced to life this week after a February 2026 jury found him guilty of multiple sex crimes against two children.
- The investigation started in July 2025 after Hernando County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a Brooksville call, and Johnson was among 1,500 pardoned by Trump last year.
- Prosecutors detailed grooming tactics including gifts and threats, with Johnson telling a victim he expected $10,000,000 and would put the child in his will to deter reporting.
- County Circuit Judge Stephen Toner imposed the life sentence after Johnson asked to withdraw his guilty plea, which the judge rejected before sentencing.
- The case is among several new prosecutions of Jan. 6 participants, with victims testifying they were afraid to tell adults and one saying, `Like, we didn't realize that this stuff was not OK because we were 12 years old,' highlighting harm to children and community impact.
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Jan. 6 Defendant Pardoned by Trump Sentenced to Life for Child Molestation
A man who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of multiple child molestation charges in Florida, prosecutors said. Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, was sentenced to life in prison after a jury last month convicted him on five counts, including molesting a child under the age of 12, molesting a child under 16, and transmitting…
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Total News Sources12
Leaning Left1Leaning Right4Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Center
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
55% Center
C 55%
R 36%
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