Hollywood actor and comedian Jay Johnston has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
The actor, known for voicing Jimmy Pesto in “Bob’s Burgers” and portraying Officer Taylor on “Arrested Development,” pleaded guilty in July to a felony charge of interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder.
Johnston, 56, was arrested in June 2023 and has since claimed to be “blacklisted” by Hollywood as a result of his actions on that fateful day. During his sentencing, he expressed deep remorse for his participation, calling it a “humiliation and a horrible oversight.”
However, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols described his behavior as “problematic” and noted that his expression of contrition was less heartfelt than that of many other rioters.
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Prosecutors detailed Johnston’s actions, stating he flew from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., the day before the riot and participated in the chaos that ensued.
He reportedly used a stolen police riot shield to help form a barrier against law enforcement and took part in a violent push that injured an officer.
Prosecutors argued that Johnston showed a lack of remorse, citing a Halloween photo where he dressed as the infamous “QAnon Shaman,” a fellow rioter currently serving a lengthy sentence.
In a plea for leniency, Johnston’s attorney argued that the government was overstating his role due to his celebrity status.
Johnston claimed he has struggled to support his family since the incident and was dismissed from “Bob’s Burgers” following his involvement in the riot.
His brother expressed shock at Johnston’s actions, urging the court to consider the career repercussions he has faced.
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In addition to his prison term, Johnston was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol.
His family shared the emotional toll the situation has taken, particularly regarding his autistic daughter, who relies heavily on his support.
