Idiot of the Week: Bob’s Burgers’ actor pleads guilty to interfering with police during Capitol riot

Last week's idiot of the week was an insurrectionist at the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This week's idiot was also part of that horrifying act. But this guy is well-known for acting and you may even know him (I don't). (It's not a coincidence that so many people who followed the former indicted felon are winding up in jail. Even people on the felon's staff are in prison). Here's what this guy did... 

FILE - This image from Washington Metropolitan Police Department body-worn video, released and annotated by the Justice Department in the statement of facts supporting an arrest warrant for Jay James Johnston, shows Johnston, circled in yellow, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Johnston, an actor known for comedic roles in the movie “Anchorman” and the television series “Bob’s Burgers” has pleaded guilty to interfering with police officers trying to protect the U.S. Capitol from a mob’s attack. Johnston faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison after pleading guilty on Monday to a felony count of civil disorder. (Justice Department via AP, File)

Bob’s Burgers’ actor pleads guilty to interfering with police during Capitol riot

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Associated Press, July 8, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — An actor who played a street-brawling newsman in the movie “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and a pizzeria owner in the television series “Bob’s Burgers” pleaded guilty on Monday to interfering with police officers trying to protect the U.S. Capitol from a mob’s attack.

Jay Johnston, 55, of Los Angeles, faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison after pleading guilty to civil disorder, a felony. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols is scheduled to sentence Johnston on Oct. 7.

The estimated sentencing guidelines for Johnston recommend a prison term ranging from eight to 14 months, but the judge isn’t bound by that term of his plea agreement with prosecutors.

Johnston’s attorney, Stanley Woodward, told his client not to comment to reporters as they left the courtroom.

Johnston, who was arrested last June, is one of more than 1,400 people charged with federal crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Video footage captured Johnston pushing against police and helping rioters who attacked officers guarding an entrance to the Capitol in a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit. Johnston held a stolen police shield over his head and passed it to other rioters during the attack on Jan. 6, 2021, the affidavit says.

Johnston “was close to the entrance to the tunnel, turned back and signaled for other rioters to come towards the entrance,” the agent wrote.

Johnston was the voice of the character Jimmy Pesto on Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers.” The Daily Beast reported in 2021 that Johnston was “banned” from the animated show after the Capitol attack.

Johnston appeared on “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” an HBO sketch comedy series that starred Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. His credits also include small parts on the television show “Arrested Development” and in the movie “Anchorman,” starring Will Ferrell.

A court filing accompanying Johnston’s plea agreement says he used his cellphone to record rioters as they broke through barricades and sent police officers retreating. Facing the crowd on the Lower West Terrace, Johnston pounded his fist together and pointed. Another rioter handed him a bottle of water, which he used to help others flush out chemicals from their eyes.

After passing the stolen shield, Johnson joined other rioters in collectively pushing against police officers guarding the tunnel entrance. He left the tunnel minutes later, according to the agreement signed by Johnston.

Three current or former associates of Johnston identified him as a riot suspect from photos that the FBI published online, according to the agent. The FBI said one of those associates provided investigators with a text message in which Johnston acknowledged being at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Idiot of the Week: Another Trumper charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot was seen taking painting

It's astonishing to think that the guy who orchestrated and conducted an insurrection against the U.S. is currently running for President, while the people who supported him and followed his direction keep going to jail for the idiot/criminal. This week's idiot is another follower of Trump, who was recently arrested and caught in many cameras that showed him stealing a painting from the Capitol. Like Trump, not only is this guy an idiot, but so are all the people who continue to support Trump - which are about 37% of Americans, sadly.  

(Photo:  michael fournier is seen entering the u.s. capitol on jan. 6, 2021 SOURCE: Courtesy FBI) 

Maine man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot was seen taking painting 

 WMTW   6:55 PM EST Jan 23, 2024 , Adam Bartow, Executive Producer

WASHINGTON — More than three years have passed since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but the FBI continues to investigate and make arrests in connection with what happened.

On Monday, Michael Gerard Fournier of Portland was arrested in Portland and charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restrict building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds and; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

He is the ninth person from Maine charged in connection with the riot.

On Jan. 11, 2021, just five days after the riot, someone who knew Fournier reached out to the FBI and identified him as having taken part in the riot, according to court documents filed Monday.

In November of 2021, court documents say the FBI met with Fournier's brother, who confirmed that Fournier was in Washington, DC on the day of the riot. In August of 2022, the brother told the FBI that Fournier was inside the Capitol during the riot.

On Dec. 3, 2021, Fournier's then-attorney, Michael Zerillo, provided a letter to the FBI in which he admitted to being inside the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. In that letter, Fournier claimed that he “observed no signage restricting his entry” into the U.S. Capitol and “there was no attempt to stop the protestors on that side of the building from entering.”

The FBI says Fournier is first seen on video at 2:38 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, approaching the Capitol from the east. He was seen taking a picture on the sidewalk and then continuing to the front of the Capitol where a crowd had gathered.

Campaign memo suggests Haley moving on regardless of primary outcome in New Hampshire A short time later, court documents say Fournier was seen climbing the Capitol steps to the Rotunda doors chanting "It's our house" with his fist raised in the air.

At 3:02 p.m., the FBI says Fournier was seen entering the Capitol through the Rotunda doors, by which time windows in the doors had already been smashed and alarms were sounding.

(IMAGE: michael fournier seen with a painting inside u.s. capitol on jan. 6, 2021 Courtesy FBI)

One minute later, Fournier entered the Rotunda and spent several minutes there, appearing to take pictures and/or video.

At 3:06 p.m., video shows Fournier coming face to face with a line of law enforcement officers wearing riot helmets as officers tried to clear the Rotunda.

He was then seen trying to leave the building but was stopped as Capitol Police officers temporarily closed the doors.

At 3:09 p.m., Fournier was seen talking with another person inside the Capitol who had picked up a painting. Fournier took the painting from the other person and was seen walking away with it. Two minutes later, he returned to the Rotunda area, no longer holding the painting.

(IMAGE: michael fournier on the upper west terrace of the capitol on jan 6, 2021 Courtesy FBI) 

He then left the building through the Rotunda doors, but court documents say he was seen putting both hands on a Capitol Police officer and appeared to exchange words with the officer.

He then went to the west side of the Capitol and spent at least an hour on the Upper West Terrace, according to court documents.

About 4:38 p.m., court documents say Fournier was seen at the stairs next to the inauguration stands on the southwest side of the U.S. Capitol where another police line had formed.

Court documents say Fournier left the area a short time later, after spending more than two hours on Capitol grounds and inside the building.

MUST WATCH: Special 30 MIn. WUSA-TV Video: Local Look: The Insurrection.

 This 30 minute special video report was compiled and produced by Washington, DC news Channel 9 about the Capitol Insurrection on January 6, 2021. WUSA-TV provides a look before, during and afterward, with interviews scattered throughout. This is something to watch.  You will be compelled to watch this horror unfold, and listen to interviews from Sgt. Fanone, Sgt. Gannell, local residents and others affected. At 14 minutes in, it will bring tears to your eyes- how this horrendous mob of Trump supporters beat Office Fanone senseless and unconscious.  This is horrifying. We must always remember this - and never, ever let it happen again.