‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor Jay Johnston pleads guilty to interfering with police during Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Jay Johnston, a comedic actor best known for lending his voice to the animated TV series “Bob’s Burgers,” has pleaded guilty to interfering with police officers attempting to stop the mob from breaching the US Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.
Johnston, 55, voiced pizza shop owner Jimmy Pesto on the hit FOX series until he was reportedly banished from the show after his involvement in the riots came to light.
He also appeared in the hit comedy movie “Anchorman” and on TV series’ like “The Sarah Silverman Program” and “Mr. Show with Bob and David.”
According to court filings accompanying his guilty plea, Johnston recorded the Capitol attack on his cell phone and provided assistance to a number of participants, including helping tear-gassed rioters flush out their eyes with water and joining a crowd to shove back against police officers defending the historic building.
An FBI agent’s affidavit said at one point Johnston also came into possession of a stolen police riot shield which he used to cover his head before passing it to other members of the marauding mob, according to court documents viewed by The Post.
He was one of more than 1,400 people charged with federal offenses resulting from the rampage at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The FBI agent said a handful of Johnston’s former associates identified the actor from crowd photos the agency distributed online. One of them sent investigators a text message exchange purporting to show Johnston’s cavalier attitude towards the deadly riot.
“The news has presented it as an attack. It actually wasn’t. Thought it kind of turned into that. It was a mess. Got maced and tear gassed and I found it quite untastic,” Johnston wrote.
Johnston was arrested in California last June and charged with the felony obstruction charge and several misdemeanors, including entering a restricted building and engaging in disruptive conduct with intent to impede government business.
He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, however estimated sentencing guidelines recommend a sentence of between eight and 14 months.
US District Judge Carl Nichols is set to sentence Johnston on Oct. 7.
