Department of Justice/AP
This image from body-worn video by the Washington Metropolitan Police Department released and commented on by the Justice Department in the statement of facts in support of an arrest warrant against Jay James Johnston shows Johnston circled in yellow on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol , in Washington. Johnston, the actor best known for his roles on the comedy television shows Bob’s Burgers and Mr. Show with Bob and David” was arrested on charges of joining a group of Donald Trump supporters in targeting police officers during the US Capitol riots. (Department of Justice via AP)
CNN –
Jay Johnston, an actor known for his roles on Bob’s Burgers, Arrested Development and other television shows, has been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, the Justice Department announced Wednesday .
According to the indictment documents, Johnston was involved in the infamous tunnel attack — one of the most violent attacks on police officers that day — and used a stolen police riot shield to stage a “gang attack” on officers defending the Lower West Terrace tunnel entrance to the Capitol and pushed together against the line of the police.
In a text message sent that day, according to court documents, Johnston said the riot in the Capitol was not an attack but “it sort of evolved into something like that,” calling it “ungassy.”
“The news portrayed it as an attack. Actually it wasn’t. Thought it kind of turned out that way. It was a disaster. “I was drugged with batons and tear gas and found it quite unsatisfactory,” Johnston reportedly wrote to a former employee who helped identify photos of Johnston from that day.
According to the Justice Department, Johnston faces multiple charges, including interference with police officers, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted area, and obstructing transit through the Capitol grounds.