Former underwear model pardoned for Jan 6 assault runs for Florida Congress seat

John Strand, once an international underwear model, spent about a year in federal prison after a DC jury convicted him on five criminal counts, including a felony, for his participation in the Jan 6 Capitol assault. In January 2025, Donald Trump pardoned him along with many other participants. Strand is now seeking the Republican nomination for Florida’s 19th district, a seat vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds, and markets himself as a “J6 hostage” while campaigning against LGBTQ initiatives such as a drag-show ban in Naples.

His campaign finances total just over $100,000, with roughly $20,000 contributed via a personal loan. He faces fellow candidates including pardoned felon Chris Collins, former Rep. Madison Cawthorn, and Catalina Lauf, who previously ran for Congress in Illinois. US District Judge Christopher Cooper clarified that the pardon does not constitute a finding of innocence. Former acquaintances note that Strand previously moved in LGBTQ circles, making his current anti-LGBTQ stance appear contradictory.