Florida sheriff’s deputies arrested the man who was led by the U.S. Capitol during Wednesday’s riot.
Adam Christian Johnson, 36, was picked up by a Pinellas County delegate on Friday night, according to an agency report. He is being held pending trial.
The sheriff’s questions referred questions from Fox News to the US Marshals Service, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Justice Department said in a statement Saturday that Johnson is charged with one count of knowingly entering or staying in any restricted building or site without legal authority; one charge of theft of government property; and one of violent trespassing and disorderly conduct Capitol terrain. ‘
Adam Johnson (credit: Sheriff of Pinellas)
“It is alleged that on January 6, 2021, Johnson illegally entered the U.S. capital and removed the speaker from the House’s pulpit from where it was stored on the home side of the Capitol building,” the statement read. ” A search of public sources led law enforcement officers to Johnson, who is allegedly seen in a widespread photo in the Capitol, with the lecturer. ‘
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The Bradenton Herald first identified Johnson as the man in a photo that quickly garnered attention Wednesday after a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol as Congress counted election votes – a formality before the inauguration of the President, Joe Biden.
The hours-long siege left at least five people dead, including a Capitol police officer.
Johnson, who was photographed wearing a hat named Trump, is a registered voter from Parrish, Fla. Although he is not affiliated with any particular party, according to Manatee County voter registration.
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According to the Herald, he is a stay-at-home dad with five children. Neither Johnson nor his family could be reached for comment Saturday.
A pro-Trump protester carries the chair of U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi through the Roturnda of the U.S. Capitol building after a pro-Trump mob stormed the building on January 6, 2021. (Photo by Win McNamee / Getty Images)
Johnson’s social media messages indicated he was in Washington, DC, ahead of Wednesday’s pro-Trump rally, which turned into a march to the Capitol led by the president.
He also shared posts condemning Black Lives Matter and law enforcement officials who defended the rights to first amendment, the Herald reported. Its criminal history includes a number of traffic and drug crimes.
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The DOJ said Johnson’s case and others “are being prosecuted by the U.S. District Attorney’s Office and are being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Capitol Police.”
The FBI is currently seeking information on individuals identified as participating in the Capitol riot. The office released 40 photos Friday of people accused of breaking into the building and asked the public for help in identifying them.
The FBI also tweeted that it was offering a $ 50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for pipe bombs found outside the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee headquarters in DC on Wednesday. .
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At least 82 people have been arrested so far in connection with the riot.