Jay Johnston, known for his voice work on Bob’s Burgers, has received a prison sentence due to his actions during the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection.
The actor was detained in June 2023 and admitted guilt to a felony charge of obstructing officers amidst a civil disorder in July. According to ABC News, video evidence allegedly caught Johnston, age 56, aiding the rioters in pushing against a police barrier on that fateful day.
The prosecutors recommended an 18-month prison term for Johnston, arguing he showed no remorse. They highlighted a photograph where he mocked his involvement in the riot by dressing as Jacob Chansley, the “QAnon Shaman,” at a Halloween event two years after the incident.
Furthermore, federal prosecutors noted that despite Johnston’s “clear knowledge of, and participation in, the violence used by rioters that day,” he still downplayed the events to friends and family, suggesting it was a “setup” by police and Antifa, as reported by NBC News.
Johnston has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.
Before his arrest, Johnston had an extensive career with appearances in Arrested Development, The Sarah Silverman Program, and most famously as the voice of Jimmy Pesto Sr. in Bob’s Burgers. His association with the Capitol Riots led to his termination from the show.
ABC News reported that during Johnston’s sentencing hearing on Monday (October 28), his family testified that he had been “blackballed” from the entertainment industry following his identification as a participant in the Capitol assault.
His attorney, Stanley Woodward, argued in a sentencing memo that the government exaggerated Johnston’s role in the riots, using his status as a renowned Hollywood actor to set an example for the public.
Woodward also mentioned that Johnston found significant success in Hollywood, earning accolades for voicing Jimmy Pesto, Sr. in Bob’s Burgers and portraying Officer Taylor in Arrested Development. However, his involvement in the January 6 events has greatly affected his ability to maintain his career.
Addressing the court briefly before his sentencing, Johnston expressed responsibility for his conduct during the riot, which was deemed “reprehensible.”
D.C. District Judge Carl Nichols, while delivering Johnston’s sentence, remarked that the actor’s thriving career made his participation in the Capitol disturbances “all the more inexplicable and troubling.”