A report from a major magazine outlines that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has moved to hold American comedian Jay Johnston on charges related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach. Johnston is known for his work on a popular television show and an animated series, Bob’s Diner. The piece notes that authorities allege he participated in the attack on the Capitol and was taken into custody in Los Angeles.
The Justice Department has lodged a criminal complaint against Johnston, citing his presence at or near the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as part of the basis for the charges. The arrest occurred in California’s entertainment hub, underscoring the nationwide scope of the investigation into the events that day.
According to the magazine, the charges listed against Johnston include participation in a riot, entering a restricted area, disrupting operations in a restricted zone, and impeding lawful passage around the Capitol complex. These allegations form the core of the government’s case, which rests on evidence gathered from multiple sources as part of ongoing law enforcement work tied to the January 6 incident.
The article describes images captured during the Capitol assault that depict Johnston. The FBI released photographs and posted them on social media with a request for public help in identifying the person shown. The investigative effort referenced in the piece reflects how authorities used photographs from the scene to assist in locating individuals involved in the breach.
In a separate note, the magazine recalls a prior American legal matter involving a different individual who faced consequences tied to the Capitol events. That case involved a former firefighter, Richard Barnett, who received a prison sentence of four and a half years after his conviction related to actions inside the Speaker’s office. The juxtaposition of these cases highlights the varied outcomes and the long tail of the investigations that followed the January 6 events.