Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 55
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Entering or Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Impeding Passage through the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Jay James Johnston pushed against police and aided other rioters near an entrance to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to court documents. He is allegedly seen on police body worn camera and surveillance footage confronting law enforcement at the West Plaza of the building among a crowd of rioters. According to the FBI, Johnston handed up a stolen police shield to other rioters and pushed against the officers in a tunnel leading into the building. In March of 2021, an attorney representing him reached out to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, as his picture was publicly disseminated by the authorities looking for him, court documents indicate. The FBI also interviewed some of his associates. According to court records, one of them provided a text message from Johnston: “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.” Johnston is an actor, known for his past role on the animated television show Bob's Burgers.
Case History
Johnston pleaded Guilty to one charge: Civil Disorder. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 10/28/2024 to 12 Months and 1 Day of Incarceration; 24 Months of Supervised Release; 40 hours of community service; Restitution of $2,000; Special Assessment of $100. Johnston received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.