Man In Viral U.S. Capitol Riot Photo Released On Bail: Report

TAMPA, FL – Adam Johnson, the Parrish man arrested after a photo of him carrying a U.S. House lectern during the U.S. Capitol building riot went viral, has been released on a $25,000 surety bond, the Bradenton Herald reported.

The 36-year-old was released after appearing before a federal judge at the federal courthouse in Tampa Monday afternoon, reports said. He was arrested on a federal warrant Friday night and booked into Pinellas County jail.

Johnson has been charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, according to a news release from the United States Department of Justice. Additional charges include one count of theft of government property, and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

He illegally entered the Capitol and removed the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's lectern from where it had been stored on the House side of the building, the DOJ said. A search of open sources led law enforcement to Johnson, who is seen in a widely circulated photo inside the Capitol carrying the lectern.

Speaking with the press outside the courthouse Tuesday, one of his defense attorneys, David Bigney, said his client faces “a lot of notoriety simply because of a photograph that was taken in an instant.”

Johnson and his family have received numerous death threats since the photo went viral. Now that he’s out on bail, he hopes to have “some privacy” and to “spend some quality time with” his family, the attorney said.

His other defense attorney, Dan Eckhart, said it’s possible Johnson could later be indicted on “much more serious charges.”

As a condition of his bail release, Johnson is required to wear a GPS ankle monitor and must adhere to a curfew that starts from before 9 p.m. and runs to 6 a.m. daily, the Herald reported. He was also forced to surrender his passport and is prohibited from possessing any firearms.

His travel has also been restricted, reports said. Johnson must remain within the Middle District of Florida unless he’s traveling to Washington, DC for court appearances or meetings related to his case.

Because of Johnson’s past criminal history involving substance abuse, drug testing will also be required, reports said.