Jay Johnston, a comic book actor identified for his work on the animated sitcom “Bob’s Burgers,” was arrested in California on Wednesday and charged with felony obstruction of law enforcement officials in the course of the riot on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The actor was recognized in police physique digital camera footage pushing towards officers and aiding different rioters on the Capitol, in line with the F.B.I.
Mr. Johnston, 54, was charged on 4 counts, together with civil dysfunction and getting into a restricted constructing. An F.B.I. affidavit states that photos from closed-circuit tv present Mr. Johnston utilizing a defend stolen from the Capitol Police to affix a gaggle assault on officers defending a tunnel entrance to the constructing.
Mr. Johnston’s title surfaced in reference to the riot in March 2021 when beginner sleuths stated they acknowledged him in images proven in an F.B.I. call for tips on Twitter. Colleagues on the podcast “Harmontown” additionally tweeted that they acknowledged Mr. Johnston, who appeared in small roles on “Arrested Growth” and “Anchorman,” amongst different comedies.
“I’m no detective, however I do know Jay,” Cassandra Church, who labored on “Harmontown” with Mr. Johnston, wrote in a tweet that has since been deleted. “He stated he was there. And that’s him within the image. So…”
The F.B.I. stated three associates of Mr. Johnston’s recognized him within the Jan. 6 images.
One affiliate supplied the F.B.I. with a textual content message by which Mr. Johnston acknowledged being on the Capitol on Jan. 6, stating: “The information offered it as an assault. It truly wasn’t. Thought it form of changed into that. It was a multitude. Acquired maced and tear gassed.”
Mr. Johnston was additionally stated to have assisted different rioters by pouring water over their eyes after they’d been sprayed.
The Every day Beast reported in December 2021 that Mr. Johnston had been banned from voicing his recurring character, Jimmy Pesto Sr., on the Fox present “Bob’s Burgers” after the Jan. 6 riot.
Greater than 1,040 individuals have been charged in reference to the assault on the Capitol, in line with the Justice Division. Prosecutors have indicated that there may very well be as many as one other 1,000 individuals who would possibly ultimately face costs, in line with individuals conversant in the matter.
The proprietor of a Lengthy Island funeral residence, Peter G. Moloney, was also charged on Wednesday within the division’s investigation of the riot. He’s accused of spraying an insecticide at law enforcement officials guarding the Capitol and attacking members of the information media.
Final month, Richard Barnett, who was photographed along with his boot on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk in the course of the assault, was sentenced to four and a half years in jail after being found guilty in January on eight legal offenses.
Stewart Rhodes, the chief of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, acquired probably the most extreme penalty so removed from legal circumstances stemming from the Capitol assault. He was sentenced last month to 18 years in jail for his conviction on seditious conspiracy costs.
Mr. Johnston has a protracted checklist of tv and film credit, largely in comedic roles. He was an everyday on the Nineties sketch comedy program “Mr. Present” with David Cross and Bob Odenkirk. He extra just lately appeared in an episode of “Higher Name Saul,” starring Mr. Odenkirk.
A lawyer for Mr. Johnston didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Alan Feuer contributed reporting.
