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Capitol rioter 'QAnon Shaman' pleads guilty, disappointed Trump didn't pardon

Published 09/03/2021, 01:24 PM
Updated 09/04/2021, 01:00 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Jacob Chansley, holding a sign referencing QAnon, speaks as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather to protest about the early results of the 2020 presidential election, in front of the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Jacob Chansley, holding a sign referencing QAnon, speaks as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather to protest about the early results of the 2020 presidential election, in front of the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (

By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Capitol rioter nicknamed the "QAnon Shaman" is disappointed former President Donald Trump did not pardon him, his defense lawyer said on Friday after the man pleaded guilty to taking part in the Jan. 6 unrest.

Jacob Chansley, of Phoenix, Arizona, was photographed inside the Capitol shirtless, wearing a horned headdress and heavily tattooed. He has been held without bond since his arrest shortly after the riot, and on Friday entered a guilty plea to obstructing an official proceeding.

While in detention, Chansley underwent mental examinations and was diagnosed by prison officials with transient schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.

Nearly 600 people have been arrested over the attack on the Capitol where Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden's November victory over Trump. Earlier Trump had given a fiery speech falsely claiming his defeat was the result of fraud.

While the felony charge Chansley pleaded guilty to carries both a maximum 20-year prison term and a fine of up to $250,000, prosecutor Kimberly Paschall indicated the maximum sentence the government was likely to request would be much shorter.

Chansley had been a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory that casts Trump as a savior figure and elite Democrats as a cabal of Satanist pedophiles and cannibals.

Although he did not get a pardon from Trump, Chansley's defense lawyer Albert Watkins said "there will always be a soft spot" for Trump in Chansley's heart.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Jacob Chansley, holding a sign referencing QAnon, speaks as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather to protest about the early results of the 2020 presidential election, in front of the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC), in Phoenix, Arizona November 5, 2020. REUTERS/Cheney Orr

At Friday's plea hearing, Watkins asked Judge Royce Lamberth to allow Chansley to be released from prison pending a sentencing hearing, scheduled for Nov. 17. The judge said he would consider this request.

Watkins noted that prosecutors had acknowledged Chansley was "not a planner or organizer" of the riot. Watkins later told reporters that Chansley had cooperated with Jan. 6 investigations and informed on a group he saw stealing classified materials from a Senate office.

Latest comments

He wasn't rioting at all.  They got him to pleased guilty to occupying an office when a meeting was scheduled.  oooooH! Kept him in solitary confinement and threatened 20 year sentence to get him to plead guilty. Any honest judge would throw this out.  This is America in 2021.  Code Pink or Kavanaugh marauders, rioters burning historic churches and nocking down statues in DC...no problem.  This guy, prison.  Welcome to the new 3rd world America, slaves.
**Plead
I love how triggered that Benjamin guy gets with the comments here. Popcorn worthy, every time.
This fella is not a criminal. He is A VICTIM of the cancelled NFL Season. Think about it.
Not financial news. More lefty propaganda. Who cares
hahaha great headline
Common, if anyone would like to sabotage govetnment should done it in a "very silent, everyday activity daily life" way, which are presented of plenty. Example would be getting job at the local municipality, do an assignments half-a* to waste and derail daily operations. List just goes on...
This guy is a moe Ron still living with mom like most trump supporters
where are real conservatives? Republicans are far more authoritarian than democrats these days
trump couldnt lead the country out of a wet paper bag, but I certainly wont convince any of his simps to change their minds about their big daddy
 exactly..
Orwellian times we live in.
I followed the happenings of the Capitol that day. I particularly saw this guy and the people surrounding him. He seemed to walk into a building some PARTICULAR handful of other, masked and dark dressed individuals, had rioted and banged/hit on the building. In which other peaceful persons had grabbed their arms and shouted "hey are you Antifa... Hey ARE YOU Antifa". The next moment the doors to the building are opened up from the inside. Everything is caught on tape. This shaman walked inside and no footage of him destroying things can be seen. He is now a "rioter". I'm gonna take it as fake news, and the range of newly diagnosis the state gave him can be understood as stripping him of agency and autonomy. His punishment is thus to never be legally having the right to be a gun owner. Non violent past history does not matter. As a citizen he has been downgraded in social score for protesting a rigged elec...
.. tion
insurrection? Really? Not at all. Foolish people, irresponsible people, yes. But you have no concern with members of Congress, your current VP, and tge media, encouraging 1 year of riots, attacking police, attacking citizens? 22 police were murdered. I Trump Air Force Veteran murdered by Capital Police, not one Trump supporter murdered anyone, and you stay silent. No, you stay silent. And are quite irresoonsible in yiur biased and willfully blind assessment.
If nothing else the media and government let Antifa burn cities, beat and ********people . Conservatives dont even know what Q is, there are nuts that lie on the fringe of both sides
Biden didnt win the election…
Baby need he bottle?
his bottle. been speaking long?
No, Trump lost
Most obvious government agent ever. He is an actor by trade.
You can see the power of media, how easily can manipulate people to do things and think of something that is not valid. These people are the real sufferer of the political system. Unfortunately or white-collar criminals are our politicians.
Try to blame media for d ouches like this gove it a rest
yeah because people committing felonies are real victims.
When one political party is targeted we're all in trouble. Look out other side. You're next!
Qs are mad lmao
This case is typical with the way the federal government prosecutes people. They're threatened with massive jail sentences or they can plead guilty and get a slap on the wrist.  Works every time.
Reuters lost level of credibility needed to report on stories like this long long time ago
Yea, that is an important news after all the goverment screwups.
Terrorists and traitors ARE impirrant news
 Yea, very scary *****without any weapons in silly horns screaming and taking selfies!
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