Comedian Jay Johnston has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Johnston, known for his Hollywood roles dating back to the 1990s, pleaded guilty in July to a felony charge of obstructing law enforcement officers who were attempting to contain a mob of Trump supporters.
The 56-year-old actor, recognized for his voice work on the animated series Bob’s Burgers, lost his role in December 2021 after being identified as a potential participant in the riot.
While prosecutors pushed for a harsher sentence, Johnston’s legal team argued that the government had “persistently overstated” his role in the incident.
Before his sentencing, Johnston addressed the court in Washington, D.C., expressing remorse and calling his actions “reprehensible,” according to reports by ABC News.
Judge Carl Nichols, who presided over the case, referenced Johnston’s successful acting career, describing his involvement as “inexplicable and troubling.”
Investigators, using body camera and CCTV footage, allege that Johnston took part in a coordinated assault on officers stationed at a Capitol entrance.
He reportedly helped carry a stolen police riot shield from the scene, which left one officer injured.
Prosecutors argued that Johnston demonstrated limited remorse, with a “clear knowledge of, and participation in, the violence” during the riot.
They highlighted a Halloween photo of Johnston dressed as the “QAnon Shaman” two years after the incident as evidence of his lack of repentance.
In messages to friends and family, Johnston also allegedly downplayed the riot’s severity, blaming media exaggeration.
Johnston’s lawyer, Stanley Woodward, maintained in a sentencing memo that his client has been disproportionately targeted due to his Hollywood fame, adding that Johnston has been “blacklisted” by the entertainment industry.
Johnston has been working as a handyman since his Hollywood opportunities dried up, an occupation far removed from his expertise and former livelihood in television and film.
Known for his roles in Anchorman, Mr. Show, Arrested Development, and as the beloved character Jimmy Pesto in Bob’s Burgers, Johnston joins the ranks of nearly 1,500 individuals charged for their involvement in the January 6 riot.
Nearly 900 of those charged have pleaded guilty, and more than 180 have been convicted in court.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, has indicated he may pardon some of the convicted rioters if elected, describing them as “hostages” and “political prisoners.”
However, Trump has not provided specifics on which individuals he would consider pardoning or the criteria he would use for such decisions.
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