Prosecutors said that Adam Johnson’s actions in the attack on the U.S. Capitol showed “a sense of entitlement, privilege”
WASHINGTON — Jan. WASHINGTON — A Jan.
Adam Johnson, a Florida dad-at-home dad to five boys aged 6-14 years old, was photographed holding Pelosi’s lectern inside the Capitol Rotunda during Jan. 6 attack. On Friday morning, he will be sentenced to U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton.
Federal prosecutors stated that Johnson’s Jan. 6 actions showed a sense of entitlement and privilege and that the famous podium photograph “portrays Johnson confidently, arguably gleeful while converting government property for his own use during an illegal siege of Capitol.”
They also pointed out that Johnson’s spouse is a doctor and that the family’s financial situation is so good that Johnson has not had the need to work in the past 11 years. Therefore, he should be able to pay a substantial fine.
Johnson has also privately retained not just one, but two reputable lawyers. They wrote that Johnson can probably afford to pay a large fine to repay taxpayers for his involvement in the mob that caused substantial damage to the United States Capitol. This would be a huge burden on the criminal justice system.
Justice Department prosecutors also disclosed messages Johnson sent following Jan. 6. They said Johnson “deleted media items pertaining the Capitol riot from both his phone and his Facebook account”.
Johnson, according to prosecutors, sent messages to his family and friends in which he claimed that he had “broke the internet” and that he was now “finally famous”, possibly in reference to the viral photo of him carrying the podium.
His attorneys claim Johnson “deeply regrets” his participation in the breaching of the U.S. Capitol, January 6, 2021. He said that his “life-changing” decision to enter the Capitol had negatively affected his family and asked the court to “consider how incarceration would affect his sons.” They claimed that he would not have been as well-received if he had grabbed another podium during the Capitol attack.
They wrote that he was not the Speaker of the House and received a lot of attention because the lectern belonged Nancy Pelosi. “Arguably he would have been able to grab a piece of furniture from the government for his photo opportunity, but jail time would not be an option.”
In connection with the Jan. 6, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump, more than 740 people have been arrested by the FBI. This was in an attempt to reverse the results of the 2020 elections and to keep Trump in power. More than 350 people are still wanted by the FBI on its Capitol Violence website. The total number of those who could face charges in connection to the Jan. 6 attack is more that 2,500.