DOJ Charges Jay Johnston For Jan 6. 2021 Capitol Breach
Feds finally identify and formally arrest voice of "Bob's Burgers" Jimmy Pesto as #247
I guess now we have answered our question.
As first reported today by NBC News, the Department of Justice has charged Jay Johnston for his involvement with the mob assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
FOX’s Bob’s Burgers, where Johnston voiced the role of the Belcher family’s nemesis, Jimmy Pesto, had banned the actor from the show by the end of 2021 after learning of his role in the Capitol insurrection. But his whereabouts and his status remained unknown and/or unpublicized by the FBI, who refused to confirm details to me when I asked about him in previous years.
That all changed Monday, when an FBI agent filed an arrest warrent against Johnston.
They read, in part:
Based upon review of public video, closed circuit television (“CCTV”) footage and police body worn camera footage depicting the events at the U.S. Capitol building and grounds on January 6, 2021, law enforcement identified an individual who pushed against police and aided other rioters near an entrance to the U.S. Capitol known as “the tunnel.” The FBI subsequently posted a photograph of the individual at the U.S. Capitol under the name 247-AFO and requested help from the public to identify the individual. As set out in detail below, law enforcement has identified 247-AFO as JAY JAMES JOHNSTON (“JOHNSTON”) and there is probable cause to believe that on January 6, 2021, JOHNSTON committed violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 231(a) (civil disorder) and 1752(a)(1) and (2) (unlawful entry on restricted buildings or grounds) and 40 U.S.C. §§ 5104(e)(2) (E) (impeding passage through Capitol grounds).
More specifically, the video footage showed Johnston taking photos and/or video outside the U.S. Capitol in the 2 p.m. hour, until about 3 p.m., when he reached the tunnel entrance atop the Capitol steps, turned, and began signaling for others to join him. The arrest warrant then says Johnston received water bottles and used one to rinse the eyes and faces of other rioters who’d been pepper-sprayed by Capitol police officers. By 3:06 p.m., Johnston had his hands on a stolen Capitol police shield and participated in a shield wall to push against police officers to make their way further into the Capitol grounds.
On March 4, 2021, the comedy world knew about Johnston’s participation when the FBI released photos of him asking for help identifying him.
Four days later, the FBI says an attorney contacted them and said Johnston was their client.
The FBI also let us know in these charges that a “current or former associate” of Johnston provided the agency with a text message, reportedly from Johnston, confirming his participation but also defending it, writing: “The news has presented it as an attack. It actually wasn’t. Thought it kind of turned into that. It was a mess. Got maced and tear gassed and I found it quite untastic.”
The FBI also obtained records showing the actor had booked a round-trip flight on United Airlines, leaving Los Angeles for Washington, D.C., on Jan. 4, 2021, and returning Jan. 7.
We’ll have more on this story as it develops.