Damian Johnston allegedly pictured inside Capitol on Jan. 6 (court documents).
The son of a Republican politician in North Dakota, himself an attempted politician, was arrested Thursday for several Jan. 6 offenses thanks to a tip about a post on his mother’s Facebook page, federal authorities allege.
Damian Johnston, the 21-year-old son of Donald Trump-endorsed former state treasurer candidate and reported state legislative candidate Daniel Johnston, was first connected to Jan. 6 in mid-September 2023. At that time, the FBI claims to have received a helpful tip from someone who “personally” knew Johnston and saw a video on the social media account of the defendant’s mom placing him at the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.
“In the initial tip, the tipster indicated that they personally knew JOHNSTON and his family. The tipster was subsequently interviewed by an FBI Special Agent based out of North Dakota—where JOHNSTON was living at the time,” During that interview, the tipster described the basis for the tip, which included seeing a video posted to JOHNSTON’s mother’s Facebook page which depicted JOHNSTON at or near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
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According to the feds, subsequent investigation of surveillance footage showed Johnston wearing a “red baseball cap with the presidential seal and the word ‘TRUMP’ in red lettering on the front” after he allegedly walked into the Capitol on the afternoon of Jan. 6 — undeterred by “shattered” windows and a “visibly cracked” Senate Wing door — and spoke into a tiny microphone as he wore an earpiece in his right ear.
Trump’s 2020 endorsement of the defendant’s father — ‘true conservative’ Daniel Johnston — for state treasurer.
“While in the Crypt, third-party video depicts JOHNSTON speaking into a small item, which appears to be a microphone, that he was holding in his hand,” court documents said. “JOHNSTON also used his cellular phone to film or take photographs of his surroundings while in and near the Crypt.”
“At approximately 3:13 p.m., JOHNSTON walked south from the Crypt and entered the Hall of Columns. CCTV footage shows JOHNSTON walking past a large group of police officers gathered at the entrance to that hallway,” the feds added. “This footage also depicts JOHNSTON, throughout his time in the Hall of Columns, speaking into the small item in his hand.”
As a result, Johnston was arrested in Wisconsin on Thursday, Sept. 26, for alleged disorderly conduct, parading, demonstrating, or picketing, and unlawfully entering and remaining in the Capitol, the standard menu of low-level and non-violent Jan. 6 offenses.
Court records reviewed by Law&Crime show that defendant Johnston’s initial appearance in Washington, D.C., before a magistrate judge was set for the afternoon of Oct. 10. The court docket does not yet show a defense attorney of record.
North Dakota radio station KFGO reports that Johnston, a diesel mechanic, was a member of North Dakota Young Republicans who failed to win a race for the Valley City School Board two years ago.
Read the DOJ’s statement of the alleged facts here.
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