The horned rioter captured in multiple videos from the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is owning up to his role in the riots, NBC News reported, On Friday (Sept. 3), Jacob Anthony Chansley nicknamed the “QAnon Shaman” pleaded guilty to a single charge of felony obstruction of an official proceeding.
While thousands of people mobbed the Capitol in support of Donald Trump’s reelection, Chansley — a member of the QAnon movement — stood out with his red, white and blue face paint, bare chest and horned hat. Videos and images captured as he entered the Senate floor and posed for pictures behind the chamber’s dais.
According to prosecutors, Chansley ignored law enforcement’s request to vacate the seat before calling former VP Mike Pence “a fucking traitor.” In a note placed on the dais, he promised that “justice is coming” and proceeded to incite rioters as they raided the government building.
Chansley was eventually arrested and charged with six crimes, including the felony charge for which he pleaded guilty. That particular charge holds a maximum 20-year sentence but will be reduced after the plea deal he struck with prosecutors. The official sentencing announcement, which will credit the eight months he’s already served in jail, is scheduled in the fall.
Aside from serving his sentence, Chansley will be required to pay $2,000 toward the restoration of the Capitol. He may also be issued a fine of up to $250,000.
Chansley’s attorneys have consistently pushed for his early release, but the Justice Department has denied the requests, noting he’s too dangerous to be set free. Instead, he must await his Nov. 17 sentencing announcement.
In the meanwhile, Chansley would like to disassociate himself with the QAnon Shaman name. “Mr. Chansley, a long avowed and practicing Shaman, has repudiated the ‘Q’ previously assigned to him and requests future references to him be devoid of use of the letter ‘Q,’” his attorney said in a statement.