Florida Man Photographed with Pelosi’s Lectern in Jan. 6 Riot Arrested for Road Rage Stabbing
A man who gained notoriety for a photograph showing him carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot is now facing legal trouble of his own. Patrick Scruggs, a former assistant U.S. attorney who spent a decade prosecuting federal crimes, found himself behind bars this week after being accused of stabbing another man multiple times following a road rage incident near Tampa during the morning rush hour.
Scruggs, who goes by “The Lectern Guy,” expressed his concern for the victim of the recent stabbing and highlighted what he sees as “double standards” in the bail conditions. He pointed out that he, too, was once presumed innocent but felt he wasn’t given that presumption when bail conditions were set for him in the past.
In Scruggs’ case, he is accused of serious felonies, including aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and armed burglary, yet he was able to post bail within 24 hours without additional conditions for his release. This, according to Johnson, highlights a disparity in the legal system.
In contrast, Johnson, who carried out his sentence and probation for his role in the January 6 incident, continues to face consequences, such as being denied readmission to the University of South Florida and repeated violations of his gun rights.
Despite having a good academic standing with a 3.7 GPA, Johnson claims he was turned down for readmission due to his probationary status. While his probation is now complete, he remains unable to return to his studies.
Johnson argues that the justice system is no longer a balanced tool but a blunt instrument wielded by an authoritative regime.
Before he pleaded guilty to charges related to the January 6 event, Scruggs sought strict terms for his pretrial release. His demands included wearing an ankle monitor, random drug testing, surrendering passports, staying within Florida’s middle district, and adhering to a nightly curfew, despite the non-violent nature of the allegations against Johnson.
Scruggs’ attorney, John Nohlgren, explained that under Florida state law, individuals are entitled to release pending trial unless they are arrested for a capital offense with substantial evidence. Scruggs’ charges—aggravated assault and battery and armed burglary—are not capital offenses. The bonds set for Scruggs were consistent with standard practice for such cases.
Nohlgren emphasized that they are cooperating with the state attorney in Pinellas County to address several issues, including the conditions of Scruggs’ release.
It’s important to note that there is more to the recent incident than what has been reported, and further investigation will reveal the complete facts surrounding the altercation.
In the end, both Scruggs and Johnson have found themselves facing different outcomes within the legal system, leading to questions about fairness and consistency in the treatment of individuals involved in criminal cases.