Hollywood veteran and J6er Jay Johnston has accepted a plea deal for his alleged involvement in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Johnston, who has written for and appeared in a series of comedic films and television programs over his 30-year career, was previously scheduled to face trial this month, though he accepted a civil disorder felony plea deal on Monday for allegedly obstructing officers during the Capitol riot.
The Hollywood veteran's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7 with US District Judge Carl Nichols. Per his deal, Johnston faces up to five years in prison. Jay Johnston caught a police shield being passed through the crowd, handed it back to a policeman, & they called that assault. Asskissing stenographer for the regime @ryanjreilly dutifully parrots the government’s lies.
https://t.co/TxCW7n6gHf
— Nick Searcy, INSURRECTIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) July 8, 2024
Johnston’s career in Hollywood abruptly came to a halt in March 2021 after the FBI shared two heavily cropped photos to X, then-Twitter, asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a man present at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Internet sleuths later identified the man in the FBI's photos as Johnston, whose text messages and airline flight records were cross-referenced to confirm his presence in Washington at the time. In response to being identified as the FBI's person of interest, Johnston was dropped by his agent and effectively blacklisted from Hollywood. His family, including fiancée and artist Sara Radovanovitch, were also subjected to harassment, stalking, and personal threats after the Hollywood veteran was identified.
The FBI alleged that during the Capitol riot, Johnston "participated with other rioters" by taking a shield from one officer and using it to push back other Capitol police officers before giving the shield to others in the crowd. The department also alleged Johnston "signaled for other rioters to come towards the entrance."
"This idea that Jay took a police shield and used it to 'push back against officers' is not correct," Radovanovitch told SCNR News in defense of Johnston. "There were shields taken from officers already floating through the crowd. When one landed on him, he made his way forward a bit and lifted it up and over some people before handing it back over to the police."
On June 1, 2021, the FBI raided Johnston’s home and held him at gunpoint in front of his family in their yard. However, federal authorities did not arrest the actor until June 7 of last year.
“Jay doesn’t have a violent bone in his body,” Johnston’s fiancée wrote in the family’s GiveSendGo campaign. “He is a wonderful father and devoted to his family, loved by his neighbors and always the first person to help others in need. We need your help. Please donate if you can and share. 🙏🏼❤️ #J6ers #j6family https://t.co/wJVGEYs0a9 Johnston has appeared in films including Men in Black II, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. The actor also appeared in television series, including Mr. Show and The Sarah Silverman Program, and also voiced Jimmy Pesto on the long-running animated sitcom Bob’s Burgers from 2011 until 2021.
— Sara Radovanovitch (@the_cats_meowww) November 28, 2023
