WASHINGTON — Jay Johnston, a Hollywood actor known for his supporting roles in popular productions such as “Anchorman,” “Mr. Show,” “Arrested Development,” and “Bob’s Burgers,” was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison on Monday due to his involvement in the violent January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Arrested in June 2023, Johnston entered a guilty plea in July to a felony charge of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder. He had been recognized as a participant in the Capitol riot long before his arrest, with professional fallout—including the termination of his voice role in “Bob’s Burgers”—being felt even prior to his legal troubles.
Federal prosecutors sought a stiffer sentence of 18 months, underscoring their case by showcasing a Halloween photo of Johnston, in which he dressed as Jacob Chansley, the infamous “QAnon Shaman,” just two years after the events he was involved in.
On January 6, 2021, Johnston was reported to have spent approximately 10 minutes in the lower west tunnel of the Capitol, a location notorious for intense confrontations between rioters and law enforcement. During this period, he was involved in aiding several fellow rioters who had suffered from police OC spray, commandeered a United States Capitol Police riot shield to establish a protective “shield wall,” and participated in a brutal push that trapped Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges against a door frame in a harrowing encounter.
Prosecutors noted that despite “his clear knowledge of, and participation in, the violence used by rioters that day,” Johnston later downplayed the severity of the situation. He sent messages post-January 6 to friends and family, suggesting the events had been sensationalized by the media, framing it as a “setup” orchestrated by law enforcement and Antifa.
In a memo arguing for leniency, Johnston’s lawyer, Stanley Woodward, contended that the government had “persistently overstated” Johnston’s culpability because he is an actor, asserting that the prosecution was leveraging his celebrity status to make a broader point about accountability.
Woodward emphasized Johnston’s accomplishments in Hollywood, noting his successful career as an actor, writer, and producer, including accolades for voicing Jimmy Pesto, Sr. in “Bob’s Burgers” and playing Officer Taylor in “Arrested Development.” However, he lamented that Johnston “has not been able to sustain his livelihood as an actor after his involvement at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
Since the insurrection, Johnston has faced significant professional backlash, reportedly becoming “essentially blacklisted by Hollywood,” and has reportedly taken on work as a handyman for the past two years—an occupation far removed from his former role in the entertainment industry.
Ahead of the Capitol breach, Johnston had corresponded with an acquaintance, humorously suggesting they “Bring food and a toilet” to what he described as “the gala affair” that would unfold on January 6. He later confirmed his intent to attend, indicating he was “going to rally, really, rally.” Additionally, Johnston participated in a rally the night before the Capitol attack, featuring conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and recorded himself bypassing “AREA CLOSED” signs on January 6.
Evidence presented by prosecutors showed that Johnston was aware of law enforcement’s presence at the Capitol, as captured in a video where he heard distant flashbangs while filming his surroundings. He documented rioters pushing a metal “Trump” billboard toward police lines, lamenting the use of OC spray against the rioters. After entering the lower west tunnel, he wielded a stolen police shield and joined a collective effort known as “heave-ho” against the police, during which Officer Hodges was violently trapped between the crowds and a door frame.
Throughout the tumultuous events, Johnston was noted to have made lighthearted remarks while rioters attacked law enforcement, jokingly commenting, “Okay! We’re going to get those light bulbs fixed!” as rioters aggressively thrust an orange ladder at the police stationed in the tunnel.
Since the Capitol attack, more than 1,500 individuals have faced arrest in connection with the insurrection, with federal prosecutors securing over 1,100 convictions thus far. The sentences have varied widely, with over 600 individuals receiving jail time ranging from mere days to 22 years for seditious conspiracy, in the case of a Proud Boys leader.
Recently, additional arrests took place, targeting numerous rioters charged with assaulting law enforcement during the harrowing events of January 6.
