Florida man who took Pelosi’s lectern in Capitol riot is hosting ‘going to prison’ party
Before surrendering to serve 75 days in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection of the U.S. Capitol, including taking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern, Adam Johnson is hosting a “going to prison” party.
“Come help me celebrate my last Friday of freedom before I go to prison for the lamest charge in history,” the Facebook event states.
The event is scheduled for April 1 at Caddy’s Bradenton.
Johnson, 38 of Parrish, pleaded guilty in November to one count of entering or remaining in any restricted building as part of a plea agreement.
Last month, Senior U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton sentenced Johnson to 75 days in federal prison, with credit for time he has already served. Following his release, Johnson will be on probation for one year, have to complete 200 hours of community service, pay a $5,000 fine and pay $500 restitution — his share of the nearly $1.5 million in damage caused at the Capitol.
During that hearing, much like at the time of plea hearing, Johnson and his defense claimed he was remorseful for his actions.
“I am not trying to shy away from the things I did,” Johnson said at the sentencing. “I am not trying to shy away from being guilty.”
Walton had previously admonished Johnson, who was captured in a viral photo smiling and posing with Pelosi’s lectern, at his plea hearing.
“You seemed to have thought it was a fun event to be involved in. I don’t understand that mentality and to come to Washington, D.C., and to destroy a monument of our democracy, I find it very, very disturbing,” Walton said at the time.
Johnson was identified in the viral photo on social media and in tips to the FBI within hours of the U.S. Capitol being breached.
Johnson’s defense attorney, Dan Eckhart, declined to comment on the party and said Johnson “is not interested in speaking to the media.”
Management at Caddy’s was unaware of the planned event and had no comment.
In a post made to the Facebook event page on March 20, Johnson wrote, “If this is your first prison party and are wondering what to bring, shivs, files, and phone cards are always appreciated.”
Johnson created his new Facebook account using the name of Frederick Muhlenberg in the URL. Muhlenberg was the first Speaker of the House and was also the first signer of the Bill of Rights.
This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Florida man who took Pelosi’s lectern in Capitol riot is hosting ‘going to prison’ party."
