Capitol Rioter Who Stole Pelosi’s Podium Launches County Commission Bid in Florida

A Florida man notorious for carrying then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s podium during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot has entered local politics, filing to run for a seat on the Manatee County Commission.

Adam Johnson, who was photographed smiling and waving while holding the Speaker’s podium amid the pro-Trump mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol, submitted his candidacy paperwork on January 6, 2024 – exactly three years after the insurrection that led to his arrest and conviction.

In an interview with WWSB-TV, Johnson acknowledged the timing was deliberate, stating it was “not a coincidence” that he filed on the anniversary of the riot. “It’s definitely good for getting the buzz out there,” he said. Johnson has embraced his notoriety, incorporating an outline of the viral photograph showing him carrying the podium into his campaign logo.

According to prosecutors, Johnson placed the podium in the center of the Capitol Rotunda, posed for pictures, and pretended to make a speech during the riot. After returning home, he reportedly boasted that he “broke the internet” and was “finally famous.”

Johnson ultimately pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor that he now compares to “jaywalking.” He served 75 days in prison, completed one year of supervised release, paid a $5,000 fine, and performed 200 hours of community service.

During his sentencing, Johnson told U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton that posing with Pelosi’s podium was a “very stupid idea.” However, his tone has shifted considerably since then. In recent comments, Johnson said he only regrets his actions because of the prison sentence, downplaying the incident by saying, “I walked into a building, I took a picture with a piece of furniture, and I left.”

Johnson also defended his actions as constitutionally protected, stating, “I think I exercised my First Amendment right to speak and protest.”

Johnson’s candidacy reflects a broader trend of January 6 participants entering the political arena. At least three individuals implicated in the Capitol riot ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2022 as Republicans. The Republican Party appears increasingly willing to welcome back those convicted of January 6-related offenses, particularly following pardons from former President Trump.

In another high-profile example, Jake Lang, who was charged with assaulting an officer and civil disorder before receiving a pardon, recently announced his candidacy for Marco Rubio’s vacant U.S. Senate seat in Florida.

Johnson is running as a Republican in Manatee County, a conservative stronghold south of Tampa where the incumbent commissioner is not seeking reelection. He faces at least four other Republican candidates in the August 18 primary.

His political platform focuses on opposition to high property taxes and overdevelopment in the rapidly growing county. Johnson has accused current county leaders of wasteful spending and has already demonstrated political engagement by filing a lawsuit against Manatee County and six commissioners in March 2023 over a legal fees dispute. The county has dismissed Johnson’s claims as “completely meritless and unsupported by law.”

Johnson appears to be leaning into the intense scrutiny his candidacy will inevitably attract, framing it as a positive for government transparency. “I will be more heavily scrutinized than any other candidate who is running in this race,” Johnson said. “This is a positive and a good takeaway for every single citizen, because for once in our life, we will know our local politicians who are doing things.”

As the primary approaches, Johnson’s campaign will test whether his notoriety from January 6 will help or hinder his political ambitions in this deeply Republican county.