Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, faces multiple charges in Florida, including lewd/lascivious molestation, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’
A man pardoned by President Donald Trump for storming the Capitol was arrested on child molestation charges, according to Florida officials, who said he tried to use an anticipated Jan. 6 payout to silence the victim.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, was arrested in Tennessee in August and extradited to Florida on charges of lewd/lascivious molestation, lewd/lascivious exhibition and transmission of material harmful to a minor.
His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The Intercept first reported the charges.
Johnson was among the roughly 1,500 people Trump pardoned this year in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office began investigating him in July after it received a call about two juveniles who had allegedly fallen victim "to lewd and lascivious acts over a many-month span," according to an arrest affidavit.
Deputies spoke to the victim's mother, who said she was going through her son's messages on Discord and found an "inappropriate" conversation involving Johnson, the affidavit says. She asked her son about the messages and asked whether Johnson had ever said or done anything inappropriate, it says.
