Jay Johnston, an actor known for his roles in “Bob’s Burgers,” “Arrested Development” and other comedies, has been arrested and charged with crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
According to a warrant obtained by USA TODAY, Johnston, 54, was arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles, Calif., and charged with civil disorder, entering or staying in a restricted building or land, disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds and obstructing passage through Capitol grounds or buildings. He was due to make his first court appearance today.
USA TODAY could not find Johnston’s contact information for comment.
In a fact-finding document, a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent provided stills of footage of the riot taken from public video, closed-circuit television and police body cameras. The document says a man in the footage who was “pushing police and helping other rioters” near the entrance to the Capitol was identified by law enforcement as Johnston.
The agent also said the FBI interviewed “three current and former associates” of Johnston, all of whom identified the actor as the individual in the photographs. One of the associates also provided the FBI with a text message in which Johnston said, “The news framed it as an attack. It actually wasn’t. (Although) it turned into this. tear gas…,” the document says. It also says United Airlines records show Johnston flew round-trip from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., departing Jan. 4 and returning Jan. 7.
The document further accuses Johnston of having participated in a “wall of protection” in which several members of the crowd “united to push against the police in a concerted movement”.
As the mob attacked police in the tunnel with pepper spray and other weapons, Johnston helped other rioters near the tunnel pour water in their faces, the document says, adding that Johnston also held a stolen police shield above his head and passed it to other rioters. .
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Johnston voiced the character of Jimmy Pesto in Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers.” The Daily Beast reported in December 2021 that Johnston was “banned” from the animated show after the Jan. 6 riot.
According to his IMDb profile, Johnston has starred in several TV comedies, lending his voice to other animated shows like “Momma Named Me Sheriff,” “Mr. Pickles,” and “Rick and Morty.” He also starred in 10 episodes of “Arrested Development”, 32 episodes of “The Sarah Silverman Program”. and four episodes of “Love” and appeared in “Parks and Recreation,” “Reno 911! “, “Modern Family”, “Malcolm in the Middle” and the film “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”.
Thousands of people stormed the Capitol on January 6 after attending President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally.
More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct on Capitol Hill on January 6. More than 500 of them were convicted, more than half of whom were sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven days to 18 years, according to the Associated Press. review of court records.
Contributor: Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Jay Johnston Charged in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot