American comic actor Jay Johnston, known for his roles in “Anchorman” and “Arrested Development,” is facing up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to interfering with police officers during the U.S. Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
Johnston, who also voiced Jimmy Pesto in “Bob’s Burgers,” is among over 1,400 individuals charged for their involvement in the violence in Washington, D.C.
Video footage shows the 55-year-old pushing against police and assisting rioters at the Lower West tunnel entrance to the Capitol.
According to an FBI affidavit, Johnston signaled for other rioters to approach the tunnel and held a stolen police shield, passing it to others. The attack aimed to disrupt the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after the 2020 presidential election.
A court filing revealed that Johnston used his phone to record rioters breaking through barricades and forcing police to retreat.
Three associates identified Johnston from FBI-published photos, with one providing a text message in which Johnston admitted being at the Capitol, describing the event as a “mess” and recounting his experience of being maced and tear-gassed.
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Johnston, arrested in June last year, now awaits sentencing on October 7 and could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.