Will Smith’s Men in Black 2 Co-Star Arrested for His Involvement in January 6 Capitol Hill Attack
Will Smith’s co-star Jay Johnston is making headlines and for all the wrong reasons. He is convicted in the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill Attack. The actor is best known for his voice-over role as Jimmy Pesto Sr in the sitcom Bob Burgers. The Chicago-born actor came into the Hollywood spotlight with Mr. Show, a Bob Odenkirk and David Cross out-of-the-box kind of sketch show, which continued from 1995 to 1998.
Actor Jay Johnston was also a part of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones starrer Men In Black 2, released in 2002. The 54-year-old actor has been associated with multiple movies like- Demoted, The Master Of Disguise, Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, and Jack Forest. He has also made cameos in projects like- Modern Family, Better Call Saul, and Parks & Recreation. Jay Johnston was also nominated for Primetime Emmy twice as a writer for Mr. Show.
Will Smith’s Co-star Arrested For The Capitol Hill Attack
Will Smith and actor Jay Johnston were both a part of the Men In Black franchise. Jay Johnston was arrested by the FBI recently due to his involvement in the January 6, Capitol Hill attack. The actor faced felony charges for restricting the officers who were responding to the civil disorder along with other charges like attempting to obstruct government business, as well as unlawful trespassing.
According to the statement made by the FBI-
“The FBI has interviewed three current or former associates of Johnston, all of whom identified Johnston as the individual in the photographs of 247-AFO. One of these associates provided the FBI with a text message in which Johnston acknowledged being at the Capitol on January 6, stating Afterward, according to prosecutors, Johnston texted someone to say he was at the Capitol.”
The statement further mentioned-
“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.”
According to the legal documents, Jay Johnston was arrested on June 7, 2023, after allegedly assisting three rioters by pouring water on their faces after the police used tear gas on the crowd. This took a huge toll on Jay Johnston’s professional life and he was barred from the Bob Burger sitcom.
What Was The January 6 Capitol Hill Attack All About?
January 6, 2021, marks a black day in the history of the politics of the United States. Following the defeat of ex-President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential elections, a mob of attackers barged into the US Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Joe Biden had defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential elections. According to the allegations, Donald Trump and his team of representatives tried to overturn the election results with the help of widespread voter fraud.
More than 2000 rioters entered the government property and vandalized it. The unruly mob even tried to attack the lawmakers. Approximately, 140 police officers were assaulted, out of which 80 belonged to the US Capitol Police. Actor Jay Johnston was also brought into the picture due to his involvement in the case. He was found helping the mob during the attack.
The #FBI is still seeking information on people who took part in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you know this individual, visit https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. Refer to photo 247 in your tip. pic.twitter.com/CetMHzU190
— FBI (@FBI) March 4, 2021
The images shared by the FBI showed Jay Johnston in a camouflage jacket and hiding his face with a camouflage face mask. He was arrested in the January 6 Capitol Hill Attack on June 7, 2023. He was charged by the Department of Justice for civil disorder, disruptive conduct in a restricted government building, and entering the restricted building or grounds.
Source: People
