An actor from Bob's Burgers is facing prison time for his involvement in the 2021 US Capitol riots. Jay Johnston, who is also the star of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, has pleaded guilty to a felony charge due to his part in the riots that took place on January 6, 2021. An armed mob of supporters stormed the Capitol as Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. Five people were killed, including one Capitol Police officer who was beaten by the people in the mob.
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He pleaded guilty to civil disorder.
On July 8, 2024, the 55-year-old actor pleaded guilty to civil disorder for "obstructing police as they attempted to protect the U.S. Capitol" during the riot, per People. His sentencing is set to take place on October 7, 2024.
Johnston faces prison time.
He faces a maximum of five years in prison, according to a press release from the District of Columbia's US attorney's office. He was arrested and charged on June 7, 2023, for a handful of other misdemeanors that related to the riots. Those included unlawful trespassing and attempting to disrupt government business, as noted in a federal warrant.
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Court documents say he joined a group of rioters on the Lower West Plaza.
According to court documents, Johnston joined a group of rioters on the Lower West Plaza of the US Capitol building by an area called the "Tunnel." Around 2:40 p.m. that day, he stormed the building with the mob as “the barricades were removed by rioters, and the police were forced to retreat” and headed to the Lower West Terrace and onto the stage being used for the inauguration.
Court documents detailed what took place.
Court documents stated that about 3:03 p.m., Johnston “made his way through the dense crowd” reaching the entryway to the Tunnel. He then “turned to face the crowd … and made a series of hand gestures, including pounding his fists together and pointing” before he “pushed his way into the Tunnel toward the police line.”
Johnston helped make a 'shield wall.'
The actor was “handed a stolen U.S. Capitol police riot shield from a rioter” and helped the mob make a “shield wall” to push against the police line. By 3:10 p.m., he was "pushed back toward the Tunnel entrance by other rioters who were leaving," but didn't leave. He instead "pushed against the police inside the Tunnel," causing an officer "to be crushed between the crowd and a door." At 3:13 p.m., Johnston exited the Tunnel.
Other people have been charged in the riots.
More than 1,000 people were charged with federal crimes for their alleged roles in the 2021 Capitol riots. According to the Associated Press, many of them have received sentences of imprisonment that range from one week to 18 years.
