Parrish Johnson, known for his role in the January 6 Capitol riots, filed a lawsuit against Manatee County Commissioners over his choice not to seek legal fees of more than $250,000.
Former Commissioner Joe McCrash faced paying for some or all of the legal bills after the board’s challenge to rollbacks for local wetland protection. For decades in Manatee County books, the protections that were featured in the books to protect sensitive environmental areas from development required 30-50 feet of buffer between the wetlands and new buildings.
However, after the August primary election changed the board’s composition, committee members voted to suspend the lawsuit against McCrash. In doing so, they chose not to take advantage of the new Florida law, which would allow governments and home builders to recover attorneys’ fees from citizens who challenge changes to developer-friendly rules.
However, Johnson’s lawsuit denies the committee’s corruption, claiming it “destroyed financial assets” and hurts residents by not seeking legal costs. The lawsuit also alleges that McClash used his news outlet, the Bradenton Times, to promote primary candidates whom he believed would ease legal costs if elected.
Johnson is suing all six commissioners who voted to dismiss legal costs, including Carol Anne Feltz, Jason Bearden, Bob McCann, Amanda Ballard, George Cruze and Tar Sidice. Commissioner Mike Lahn, the only vote, has not been appointed as defendant.
The lawsuit asks the judge to cancel the decision and seek a fee from McClash.
Contacted by phone, Johnson refused to comment on the lawsuit but sent a written statement via email.
“Committee Kruze, Sidike, Feltz and McCann all received support from online publisher Joe McCrash, and in return they destroyed public assets that benefited only Mr McCrash,” he wrote. “The best case, it’s just optical, but in my opinion, it’s corrupt political recall at taxpayer’s expense.”
Several commissioners had not yet learned about the lawsuit when asked for comment. Ballard, Siddique and Felts declined to comment, and the other commissioners appointed in the lawsuit were unable to reach immediately Tuesday afternoon.
In response to comment, McClash said there was no comment and it has not yet considered the lawsuit.
Litigation related to county wetland protection rollback
In October 2023, Manatee County commissioners voted 5-1 to eliminate local wetland protection. This is a move proposed by developer interest groups against environmental advocates and hundreds of residents.
After that vote, McClash submitted an administrative challenge to change the rules, claiming that the county did not meet the requirements of its own comprehensive planning by showing that the changes were in the public interest.
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But the judge in the case interprets the new controversial Florida law and means that McCrash is liable to pay the county’s attorneys’ fees.
McClash moved to dismiss the case and avoid charges. However, the County Attorney’s Office argued that the fire made the county a general party, and the judge agreed. The county sought attorneys’ fees of more than $246,000 and taxable costs of more than $10,000 on McClash.
But before the judges placed emphasis on which portion of the amount McCrash had to pay, the August primary changed the county commission’s position on the case.
After three new commissioners were voted, the board voted 6-1 in November and did not seek legal fees from McClash.
The new board has also begun the process of restoring wetland protection into a comprehensive plan.
The lawsuit alleges county leaders have been destroyed.
Johnson’s lawsuit alleges that the commissioner who voted to dismiss McCrash’s legal costs would “corrupt the official position and secure the privilege, benefits, or exemption of an individual, Joseph McCrash.”
“By ordering McClash to settle for him to repay a small portion of the costs he himself had to suffer the damage to the county, the Commissioner’s defendant wasted a significant amount of taxpayer resources and effectively destroyed the county’s financial assets.”
The Bradenton Herald previously reported on court records that revealed how the bill became expensive. At least 10 people in the county were working on lawsuits against McClash, with hourly rates ranging from $75 to $375. Seven of these hourly rates were over $300.
The law used by the county to seek attorneys’ fees has been criticised by public government advocates and environmental groups for its possibility of suppressing the citizens’ agenda for local government’s unpopular decisions.
But Johnson’s lawsuit argues that the county should have raised as much money as possible.
Johnson uses Robert Andrede, a lawyer from the same law firm. Robert Andredo represents former commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge in a lawsuit in which the Bradenton Times of McCrash and local political groups reclaim the manatee.
Who is Adam Johnson?
Johnson is widely known as the “Lecture Man” or “The Man on the Podium” and became one of the most famous figures on January 6, 2021, and became one of the attacks on the U.S. Capitol after he smiled and waved as he carried the lecturer of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Prosecutors said Johnson entered the Capitol through the Senate wing door, wandered the building for a few minutes, trying to open the door to Pelosi’s office before taking him to House Rotunda, before leaving it.
Manatee County residents identified Johnson after the photos were circulated on social media, leading to FBI hints and his ultimate arrest. He was later sentenced to 75 days in federal prison, followed by a year of probation and 200 hours of community service, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
In January, Johnson was one of several locals who were given presidential pardons for their role in the Capitol riots. He immediately took him to social media to celebrate his tolerance and posted, “Now I’ve got a pardon for my lecture…about my lecture.” The post received over 43,000 likes as it appeared Johnson was making a joke about his beliefs and the famous nature of his case.
Johnson embraced the infamousness he gained since January 6th, appearing in political events, conservative talk shows, and posted to more than 100,000 followers as “The Lectern Guy.”
In court, Johnson allegedly repented his actions on January 6th, but his official statement under oath had undermined his words.
“What’s the part about regret? Johnson posted it on X in 2023.
