Jan. 6 Rioter ‘Lectern Guy’ Files To Run For Manatee County Commission

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A Parrish man who got national attention when a photo of him carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach went viral, has filed to run for the Manatee County Commission, according to multiple reports.

Adam Johnson, who earned the nicknames “Lectern Guy” and “Podium Guy” because of the attention, filed to run as a Republican for the District 6 at-large seat on Tuesday, the fifth anniversary of the attack, ABC 7 reported.

Johnson, who took a plea deal for his role in the Capitol breach, spent 75 days in jail and one year on probation, and paid a $5,000 fine. He pleaded guilty to one charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or ground, a misdemeanor.

He was among those eventually pardoned by President Donald Trump, according to the Observer.
So far, Johnson is running against four other Republicans in the District 6 race, according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections — Tony Barrett, John B. Calovich, Anthony C. Drake and Edward J. Ference.

The seat is currently held by Commissioner Jason Bearden. Supervisor of Elections records indicate that he hasn’t filed to run for re-election yet.

On his campaign website, Johnson described himself as a “conservative fighter for Manatee County.”

His website also said that he “is running to bring MAGA principles to county government and root out the corruption.”