Actor in ‘Anchorman’ Melee to Plead Guilty for Participation in Capitol Riot

Actor Jay Johnston can’t point to method acting as his justification for participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, so instead he will plead guilty. Ryan Reilly of NBC News reported on Monday that the former Bob’s Burgers cast member, who was charged with felony obstruction of officers during civil disorder, unlawful entry on restricted buildings or grounds, and impeding passage through Capitol grounds, will enter a guilty plea on July 8.

Reilly also points out that Jan. 6 was not the first time Johnston participated in a highly publicized brawl. The first time, however, was fictional. In 2004, Johnston played a minor role in the blockbuster film Anchorman, as a member of the fictional Eyewitness News team that challenges Ron Burgundy’s KVWN Channel 4 News team to a street fight.

In March of 2021, the FBI two posted an image on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption “The #FBI is still seeking information on people who took part in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you know this individual […] refer to photo 247 in your tip.”

The photos were later confirmed to be Johnston, who was arrested in Los Angeles in June of last year.

Authorities alleged that at the Capitol, Johnston had “pushed against police and aided other rioters near an entrance to the U.S. Capitol known as ‘the tunnel,’” and had “assisted other rioters in handing up U.S. Capitol Police shields” that they’d wretched from law enforcement attempting to prevent their entrance to the building. Johnston was later seen holding one such shield in what the FBI called “a group assault on the officers defending” an entrance to the Capitol.

Johnston was fired from his voice-acting role as the extremely punchable side character Jimmy Pesto on Bob’s Burgers in December 2021. It’s safe to say that his performance for law enforcement body cameras on Jan. 6 will likely be his last major role in an otherwise mediocre career.

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