A Monday evening hanging out with friends, having a few drinks, and talking about politics wouldn’t normally get coverage in the local newspaper. This time was different, however, thanks to one guest who, despite his relaxed and joking demeanor in our group, sparked outrage online at his mere presence in the state of Nebraska.
His name is Adam Johnson, better known online as “The Lectern Guy.”
The Backstory to Today
Johnson became famous on January 6, 2021, when he was photographed inside the U.S. Capitol carrying a lectern belonging to then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Many people who saw the photo assumed that he had carried the lectern out of the Capitol with him. In reality, he’d only moved it from a location near a spiral staircase into the rotunda to stage a photo.
Johnson later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor trespassing and was sentenced to 75 days in prison. He took the sentencing in stride, throwing himself a “going to prison party” before completing the sentence, complete with a cake from Publix and a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue.
Johnson has since served his time and received a presidential pardon, but the photo’s infamy still follows him. The notoriety has made him something of a celebrity in conservative circles, and he’s come to embrace the image of himself. He wears a jacket with a silhouette of his famous picture embroidered on it, and even has a line of merchandise using this image, with a majority of the proceeds going to charity.
“I’m big on making lemonade when someone gives you lemons,” he said.
Having fun storming the capitols
Now, more than four years later, Johnson is affably embracing his role as a political provocateur through a tour of all 50 state capitals. He has visited 20 so far, and he was traveling from Topeka to Des Moines when one Omaha conservative reached out to him, suggesting that he make a slight detour to visit Lincoln along the way. Johnson visited the Nebraska state capitol in Lincoln on Tuesday.
The Nebraska Freedom Coalition (NFC), which has hosted numerous events with conservative influencers in the past, connected with Johnson to host a meet-and-greet — the first event of its kind for them since Freedom Fest in October 2023. Sean George, better known online as the “Beard Vet,” is a founding member of 88 Tactical, a shooting range with an adjoined restaurant. He arranged for space to host the event when Johnson arrived in Omaha.
Unfortunately, news of the event also attracted the attention of online activists, some of whom were outraged that a “convicted January 6th insurrectionist” could visit the Nebraska state capitol without a show of resistance. After a few angry phone calls and threats of a protest outside, 88 Tactical pulled the plug — as did a sports bar that was chosen as a backup venue. After identifying a leaker on their guest list, the NFC relocated to a secure third venue, where the meet-and-greet went ahead as planned.
The evening was a small but intimate setting, with around two dozen guests meeting and greeting Johnson throughout the evening. Guests got photos with him, and Johnson talked about his experience on January 6 and the years afterward. He also talked about his five kids, all boys, who attend public school in the hopes of having a positive influence on classmates — kids who might not encounter conservative ideas in a public school setting. Johnson spoke specifically how conservatives can’t hide from conflict, and they have to raise their kids to stand up to it.
Even inside a secure venue, the drama of Johnson’s visit continued online. One person, unbeknownst to Johnson, had photographed him entering the capitol from a side door and shared it online. I showed this photo to him, wondering which entrance he took, and asked “How did you enter the capitol?”
“By storming it, obviously,” he replied, not missing a beat.
A Fractured View from the Media
One particularly surreal moment came when I learned that the Omaha World-Herald was covering the event while it was still underway. The story focused solely on the event’s cancellation at the two previous venues, and it described the evening as a “Jan. 6 rioter’s ‘meet and greet.'” It was a moment where I could clearly see the funhouse mirror of media distortion, providing a fractured, outside view of an event I was in the middle of experiencing firsthand.
Perhaps the real story should be why having a few drinks with friends and talking about politics should be considered a news story, or how a local newspaper that is struggling to maintain readership feels obligated to act as a mouthpiece for the online activists who tried to shut down a friendly get-together.
The experience was nothing new to the Lectern Guy, of course, who has had numerous events cancelled in a similar fashion. When discussing the continuing outrage over a misdemeanor that took place over four years ago, one guest asked Johnson whether he would do it all over again.
“I think so,” he said. “At the very least people now understand the difference between a podium and a lectern.”
Despite being cast as a “rioter”” and an “insurrectionist,” Adam Johnson seems to find more amusement in his role than shame — particularly as he takes his reputation for “storming” the capitol to all 50 states.
Update: Adam Johnson posted the following on his X account on Thursday, April 17.
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