Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter who hauled Pelosi’s lectern around Capitol launches run for Florida office
Adam Johnson, a 41-year-old father who broke into the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is running for office in Florida. EPA
Adam Johnson, the 41-year-old father of five who gained notoriety for carrying then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern through the US Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots, announced he is running for office on the fifth anniversary of the attack.
Johnson is seeking Manatee County’s at-large commissioner seat, presenting himself as a “conservative fighter,” according to his campaign website. The Florida resident, often called the “Lectern Guy,” was photographed grinning while moving Pelosi’s podium through the Capitol. Prosecutors said he even placed it in the Rotunda and mimicked giving a speech.
Johnson pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building, a misdemeanor that resulted in 75 days in federal prison, a $5,000 fine, and 200 hours of community service. During sentencing, he admitted that posing with the lectern was “a very stupid idea,” but he showed little remorse immediately after the incident.
Prosecutors said Johnson boasted about “breaking the internet” and being “finally famous” while driving home from Washington, D.C. “I walked into a building, I took a picture with a piece of furniture, and I left,” he told CBS News.
The Jan. 6 riots saw hundreds of rioters overwhelm metal barriers and Capitol police, smash windows and doors, and enter the Capitol as Congress was certifying the 2020 election results. Some carried weapons, including pepper spray and baseball bats, and chanted threats against lawmakers, including calls for Vice President Mike Pence to be hanged.
President Trump pardoned many of the rioters at the start of his second term. Johnson had already completed his sentence by then and retained all his rights, including the ability to run for public office, because his conviction was a misdemeanor rather than a felony.
Johnson told WWSB that filing to run on Jan. 6, 2026, was intentional. “It’s not a coincidence,” he said. “It’s good for getting the buzz out there.”
His campaign website criticizes local officials for ignoring “MAGA principles” and emphasizes his commitment to fighting corruption, protecting taxpayers, and prioritizing residents over special interests. “Adam can’t be bought. He can’t be bullied. And he won’t back down from exposing corruption wherever he finds it,” the site states.
Johnson cited his psychology degree and church work as qualifications for handling challenging situations and leading effectively.
Other Jan. 6 participants have also sought office. Jake Lang, pardoned by President Trump after being charged with assaulting an officer and civil disorder, is running for the U.S. Senate in Florida. Three other convicted rioters unsuccessfully sought Congressional seats as Republicans in 2024.
While convicted felons lose voting rights, misdemeanor convictions like Johnson’s do not prevent someone from running for federal or most state offices, though certain states can impose additional restrictions for state-level positions.
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