By: Jeffrey Wu
Jay Johnston is a comedy actor best known for his work in the animated sitcom “Bob’s Burgers”. On June 7th, 2023, he was arrested in California. He was charged with various offenses when the F.B.I. discovered that he actively assisted in the Capitol attacks.
Johnston has acted in many comedic television shows. He sketched characters and wrote in “Mr. Show” in the 1990s and later appeared in “Better Call Saul”.
During the Capitol attack on January 6th, 2021, former President Trump encouraged his supporters to storm the Capitol after his position was “stolen”. Their march turned violent -- extremely dangerous weapons were discovered, and many were injured or dead, according to the New York Times.
Following the Capitol riots, the F.B.I. posted images of unidentifiable people who were involved in the attacks on Twitter. Subsequently, 3 of Johnston’s co-workers recognized him. “I’m no detective, but I do know Jay,” Cassandra Church, who worked on “Harmontown” with Johnston, tweeted. “He said he was there. And that’s him in the picture. So…”
Another associate provided the F.B.I. with textual evidence proving Johnston's presence at the Capitol attacks, stating, “The news presented it as an attack. It actually wasn’t. Thought it kind of turned into that. It was a mess. Got maced and tear gassed and I found it quite untastic.”
On police body camera footage, Johnston was seen using a stolen shield from the Capitol police to join a group assault on the officers, defending a tunnel entrance to the Capitol.
The court charged him on four counts, including obstruction of police officers, civil disorder, and entering restricted buildings, according to the Justice Department.
Johnston was banned in December of 2021 from ever returning on the Fox show “Bob’s Burgers” in which he voiced Jimmy Pesto Sr., according to The Daily Beast.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/07/us/politics/jay-johnston-actor-january-6.html
https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/08/politics/jay-johnston-actor-january-6-capitol-riot/index.html
https://www.nbcnews.cDOJ charges 'Bob's Burgers', 'Arrested Development' actor for alleged role in January 6 attackom/politics/justice-department/feds-charge-bobs-burgers-arrested-development-actor-jan-6-capitol-riot-rcna88135
https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/08/politics/jay-johnston-actor-january-6-capitol-riot/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/us/capitol-rioters.html