2024-07-09 13:05:01
In short:
Jay Johnston has pleaded guilty to civil disorder, after allegedly interfering with police officers who were trying to protect the US Capitol from attack on January 6, 2021.
Johnston is best known for the animated series Bob’s Burgers and had small parts in the film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and the sitcom Arrested Development.
What’s next?
He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced October 7.
Actor Jay James Johnston, 55, of Los Angeles, has pled guilty to civil disorder, a felony, and will be sentenced by a US district judge on October 7.
The guilty plea is linked to the January 6, 2021 riot during which supporters of then-outgoing president Donald Trump attacked police, broke through barricades, and entered the US Capitol in a failed attempt to prevent congressional certification of incoming President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win.
Johnston is one of the more than 1,400 people arrested and charged with federal crimes stemming from that day.
He is known as the voice of the character Jimmy Pesto, a pizzeria owner in the TV series Bob’s Burgers. He also played a street-brawling newsman in the movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy starring Will Ferrell; and had a small part in the television sitcom Arrested Development.
Johnston reportedly lost his job on Bob’s Burgers after the Capitol attack.
According to an affidavit from a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, video footage captured of Johnston shows him pushing against police and helping rioters who attacked officers who were guarding an entrance to the Capitol in a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace.
The affidavit, seen by ABC News, contains video stills, some of which are of Johnston holding a stolen police shield over his head. The FBI agent states in the affidavit that Johnston passed the shield to other rioters during the attack.
The agent goes on to say that Johnston “was close to the entrance to the tunnel, turned back and signalled for other rioters to come towards the entrance”.
A court filing accompanying Johnston’s plea agreement says he used his mobile phone to record rioters as they broke through barricades and sent police officers retreating.
Facing the crowd on the Lower West Terrace, Johnston is said to have pounded his fists together and pointed. Another rioter handed him a bottle of water, which he used to help others flush out chemicals from their eyes.
After passing the stolen shield, Johnston joined other rioters in collectively pushing against police officers guarding the tunnel entrance. According to the agreement signed by Johnston, he left the tunnel minutes later.
The FBI agent says three current or former associates of Johnston identified him as a riot suspect from photos that the FBI published online.
The FBI said one of those associates provided investigators with a text message in which Johnston acknowledged being at the Capitol on January 6.
Johnston faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
ABC/AP
