Yasmeen Hamadeh
Bob's Burgers voice actor Jay Johnston has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The actor was arrested in June 2023 and pleaded guilty in July to a felony offense of obstructing officers during a civil disorder. Per ABC News, video footage reportedly showed Johnston, 56, helping rioters push against a police line on January 6.
Prosecutors had sought 18 months in federal prison for Johnston, citing a lack of remorse and pointing to a photo in which he 'made light of his participation in the riot by dressing up as Jacob Chansley, known as the "QAnon Shaman," at a Halloween party that he attended' two years after the attack.
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Moreover, federal prosecutors wrote that despite Johnston's 'clear knowledge of, and participation in, the violence used by rioters that day' he still 'sent messages to friends and family in the days after January 6th claiming the events at the U.S. Capitol were exaggerated by the media and that it was a 'setup' by police and Antifa', per NBC News.
He has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison.
Prior to his arrest, Johnston had a lengthy resume that included roles in Arrested Development, The Sarah Silverman Program, and most notably Bob's Burgers as the voice behind Jimmy Pesto Sr. He was fired from the show shortly after his involvement in the Capitol Riots was brought to light.
Per ABC News, Johnston's family members spoke at his sentencing hearing on Monday (October 28) and claimed that he had been 'blackballed' from Hollywood ever since he was identified for his participation in the Capitol attack.
Meanwhile, his lawyer, Stanley Woodward, wrote in a sentencing memo that the government has 'persistently overstated' Johnston's role in the riots 'because he is an acclaimed Hollywood actor, and the government is using his status to make a point to the public'.
He also wrote that Johnston 'found great success in Hollywood as an actor, writer, and producer including accolades for his role as the voice actor for Jimmy Pesto, Sr. in the animated series Bob's Burgers and as Officer Taylor in Arrested Development'.
He added that Johnston 'has not been able to sustain his livelihood as an actor after his involvement at the Capitol on January 6, 2021'.
Johnston briefly addressed the court before his sentencing and took responsibility for his role in the attack which was described as 'reprehensible'.
As D.C. District Judge Carl Nichols handed down Johnston's sentence, he cited that the actor's successful career made it 'all the more inexplicable and troubling' that he would have participated in the Capitol attacks.