BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — A man who grabbed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s podium and posed for photographs during the U.S. Capitol riot is running for an at-large seat on the Manatee County Commission in Florida.
Adam Johnson filed to run as a Republican on Tuesday, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the January 6 riot when he was photographed smiling and waving as he held Pelosi’s podium in the aftermath of the attack by a pro-Trump mob.
In an interview with WWSB-TV, Johnson stated that it was “not a coincidence” that he launched his campaign on the anniversary of the riot, saying “it’s definitely good for getting the buzz out there.” His campaign logo features an outline of the viral photograph of him at the Capitol.
This is not the first time individuals linked to the January 6 riot have entered politics. At least three other participants have attempted to run for Congress in past elections as Republicans. Moreover, the Republican Party appears to be more welcoming towards those previously convicted for offenses related to January 6 following pardons granted by former President Trump.
Johnson, who pleaded guilty in 2021 to entering and remaining in a restricted area, equated his offense to “jaywalking.” At his sentencing, he served 75 days in prison, followed by a year of supervised release. He also faced a $5,000 fine and was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.
Despite his controversial history, Johnson claims to have learned from the experience, stating, “I think I exercised my First Amendment right to speak and protest.” He is now positioning himself as a candidate focused on local issues, opposing high property taxes and what he views as wasteful government spending.
As he embarks on this political journey, Johnson acknowledges that he will face intensified scrutiny compared to other candidates. However, he believes this will ultimately benefit the community by shedding light on local politicians’ actions.
