Bob's Burgers and Anchorman actor Jay Johnston pleads guilty to interfering with police in Capitol attack

Jay Johnston, the actor and comedian known for working on such TV series and films as Mr. Show, Anchorman, and Bob's Burgers, has pleaded guilty to interfering with police officers who were trying to protect the U.S. Capitol from an attacking mob on Jan. 6, 2021.

Johnston, 55, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of civil disorder on Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols is scheduled to sentence him on Oct. 7.

An attorney for Johnston, Stanley Woodward, declined to comment to Entertainment Weekly.

Johnston was arrested in June 2023 and is one of more than 1,400 people charged with federal crimes in connection with the Capitol attack.

According to a criminal complaint, Johnston was among a large group of rioters who entered a Capitol tunnel and "confronted law enforcement officers at the West Plaza." The FBI further alleged that video footage captured Johnston as he "joined other rioters in pushing repeatedly against the defending police officers."

Johnston was first identified and linked to the Capitol attack in March 2021, when he was recognized in a pair of photos posted by the FBI on social media. His attorney subsequently contacted the FBI's National Threat Operations Center.

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The Daily Beast reported in late 2021 that Johnston's alleged participation in the riot resulted in him being "banned" from his role voicing Jimmy Pesto Sr. on Bob's Burgers. The actor had worked on 43 episodes over the course of 11 seasons, with his last episode airing in May 2021, according to IMDB. Since his departure, the character has been revived with Eric Bauza in the voice role.

Johnston's other screen credits include Arrested Development, Moral Orel, The Sarah Silverman Show, and Momma Named Me Sheriff.