An actor who has appeared in several popular television shows and movies is one of the latest people arrested and charged for allegedly committing crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Jay Johnston, 54, was arrested on June 7 after being charged with interfering with law enforcement officers during the breach.
Authorities say Johnston, of Los Angeles, joined a concerted push against officers blocking an entrance to the Capitol at the end of a tunnel from the Lower West Terrace.
Surveillance footage showed a man who looks like Johnston being part of the effort, flight records showed Johnston had a round-trip flight reservation from Los Angeles to Washington in January 2021, and one of his associates provided the FBI with a text message in which Johnston acknowledged he was at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
“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 [sic],” Johnston wrote, according to charging documents.
In still images from video, a man authorities say is Jay Johnston stands outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (FBI via The Epoch Times)Footage also showed Johnston taking a riot shield stolen from U.S. Capitol Police by others and carrying it away from the police before handing it to another person, authorities said.
Johnston was said to have entered the tunnel leading to the entrance at 3:05 p.m. on Jan. 6 after about eight minutes. He is not accused of entering the Capitol itself.
Johnston did not have a lawyer listed on the court docket. He was expected to appear in court this week.
Johnston, an Illinois native, has been on a number of popular shows and movies, including “Arrested Development.”
Johnston was “Officer Taylor” in the series for 10 episodes.
Jay Johnston attends the Comedy Central Emmy After Party at Falcon in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 20, 2009. (Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)His other credits include “Parks and Recreation,” “Reno 911!,” “Modern Family,” “Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History,” and “Better Call Saul.”
In the movie “Anchorman,” Johnston portrayed a television broadcast worker who took part in a brawl between rival broadcasters.
Johnston had in recent years turned primarily to voice acting, being the voice behind several characters in “Mr. Pickles” and “Momma Named Me Sheriff,” as well as voicing the character “Jimmy Pesto” in “Bob’s Burgers.”
Johnston was reportedly banned from “Bob’s Burgers” after being accused of participating in the events of Jan. 6.
Authorities made another arrest this week in the Jan. 6 investigation.
Funeral home director Peter Moloney, 58, was taken into custody on June 6 in Sayville, New York, over charges including civil disorder and engaging in physical violence in a Capitol building or on Capitol grounds.
Moloney, of Bayport, New York, sprayed police officers with a can of Black Flag Wasp, Hornet & Yellow Jacket Killer, according to body camera videos from the scene. A notice on the label for the spray says that it will violate federal law if it is used “in a manner inconsistent with its labeling” and says to “not apply this product in a way that will contact adults, children, or pets, either directly or through drift.”
Moloney also joined in the attack against an Associated Press photographer who was accused of being part of the far-left Antifa network, according to charging documents authored by an FBI agent.
Moloney brought protective glasses, a helmet, and a can of chemical spray, which indicated that he went to the Capitol “prepared for violence,” the FBI agent said.
Moloney is also not accused of entering the Capitol.
In this image from video, a man authorities say is Peter Moloney sprays a chemical spray at police officers outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (DOJ via The Epoch Times)Moloney owns a funeral home company with his relative, F. Daniel Moloney Jr.
The company owns multiple funeral homes and cremation centers.
A biography on the company’s website describes Peter Moloney as a married father of four children who attends church. It says Peter Moloney joined the family business after receiving a funeral director license.
Peter Moloney was listed as a member of multiple groups, including Knights of Columbus and the National Association of Approved Morticians. His hobbies were said to include skiing and triathlons.
Peter Moloney did not have a lawyer listed on the court docket. A receptionist at his company declined to comment immediately on the charges.
Sandra Weyer (C) in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (DOJ via The Epoch Times)More than 1,000 people have been arrested over Jan. 6, including Sandra Weyer, who was found guilty on June 6 of obstruction of an official proceeding and other counts.
Weyer, 59, was convicted by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, following a bench trial.
Weyer, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, according to charging documents, helped take down barricades that were set up to block people from accessing the Capitol grounds and encouraged others to remove the barriers, shouting “tear it down!”
Weyer also joined the crowd in entering the Capitol as U.S. Capitol Police officers nearby declined to intervene. “This is awesome, we did it!” she said inside.
Weyer is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 14. The most serious charge for which she was found guilty carries up to 20 years in prison.