A Florida man held Pelosi’s lectern during the D.C. riot. Now the FBI is looking for him

UPDATE: Florida resident Adam Christian Johnson, the man captured in viral photo carrying Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern from House chambers during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, has been arrested. Read the full story here.

The FBI is searching for the Florida man identified in a viral photo showing him carrying U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s lectern as he marauded through the U.S. Capitol during Wednesday’s riot by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Adam Christian Johnson, a 36-year-old man from Parrish, near Bradenton in Manatee County, was promptly identified on social media by many Manatee residents on Wednesday, as the photo captured by chief Getty Images photographer Win McNamee quickly circulated on social media. Some also identified him in tips sent to the FBI.

Johnson was not among the 13 suspects identified by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday as having been already charged in federal court for their alleged roles in the riot. Complaints have been filed against others, but those remain under seal.

Among the federal charges filed against the 13 suspects — and that Johnson also could face — are knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and theft of public money, property, or records, which carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.

During a press call on Friday afternoon, Steven D’Antuono, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, stressed these charges were just the beginning and that the FBI would spare no resource. This investigation, he said, is a priority for the entire FBI.

“Make no mistake, our work here is not done,” D’Antuono said. “Just because you left the D.C. region, you can still expect a knock on the door if we find out that you were part of the criminal activity at the Capitol.”

On Friday, FBI special agents following up on some tips from Manatee County as part of their “all-hands-on-deck” effort across the country to investigate those responsible for the riot.

Allan Mestel, a photographer in Bradenton, was among those contacted by FBI agents in response to a tip. Mestel knows Johnson through a mutual association, he explained.

“I do know some details about his relationship and the problems they have had with his extreme right views, which has now come to a head,” Mestel said. “Once I saw the picture of him with Nancy Pelosi’s podium, I knew it was him.”

Agents asked about his associations with Johnson, as well as whether Mestel knew Johnson’s current whereabouts or who else may have traveled to Washington D.C. with him. Mestel and anyone with pictures or screenshots of Johnson’s social media posts, especially those taken during the riot at the Capitol, have been asked to submit them to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324). You can submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.

“It was pretty clear that they were looking for him,” Mestel said.

It is not known whether Johnson has returned to the area, but Johnson had traveled to D.C. by car, according to an acquaintance.

More details about Adam Johnson

On Friday, more details emerged about Johnson’s background and his political activities.

Social media posts show Johnson hosting a maskless New Year’s Eve party and disparaging the Black Lives Matter movement and police.

A person familiar with Johnson and his family shared several images with the Bradenton Herald that were posted to Johnson’s Facebook account in the days before it was deleted.

Two of the images depict a New Year’s Eve party that was hosted by Johnson and his wife, Suzanne, according to the source. A large crowd can be seen gathered in close quarters, drinking and dancing and without wearing masks. Among the crowd are Johnson, his wife and his 12-year-old son, according to the source familiar with Johnson’s family.

Another screenshot depicts a text post made by Johnson on Wednesday morning while he was in Washington, D.C., hours before he participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol. In it, he disparages the Black Lives Matter movement and law enforcement for defending citizens’ right to protest.

“Last night I was part of something pretty amazing,” Johnson’s post reads. “In one of my live videos you can hear the crowd chanting ‘(expletive) black lives matter,’ Johnson wrote, presumably referring to an earlier post. “The crowd was trying to push through police lines and engage their political opposition.”

“Last night we watched the police defend the very groups that have vandalized and terrorized businesses,” Johnson said later in the post.

The Black Lives Matter protests across the U.S. during the spring and summer of 2020 were overwhelmingly peaceful, a study of thousands of demonstrations by the nonprofit Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project found. The numerous social justice marches and demonstrations covered by the Bradenton Herald in Manatee and Sarasota counties last summer were among the many non-violent protests.

Johnson’s post also claimed that many people in the crowd he witnessed clashing with police were residents of the Washington D.C. area. “They are tired of the corrupt police in D.C. picking the sides of criminals.”

Hours after the post was made, Johnson was captured on camera defiling federal property with other rioters at the U.S. Capitol in what became a deadly event for participants and at least one law enforcement officer. Additional law enforcement officers were injured in the attack.

At least two suspects are from Florida

Of the 13 suspects who have been named by the FBI, at least two are Florida residents.

Matthew Council, of Riverview, was charged Thursday with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, according to charging documents.

Police report that Council was among those who breached the emergency exit near the Senate wing of the Capitol while yelling at officers attempting to stop them. Once inside, Council pushed one officer and was subsequently pepper-sprayed, according to that officer.

Michael Curzio, of Summerfield, was charged Thursday with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Curzio was among six people police said were at the front of a crowd of dozens who were told to leave when they were seen in the upper level of the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center near the door to the House Atrium. He and the five others refused to leave and were arrested by Capitol police.