The ‘QAnon Shaman’ was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Wednesday for his role in the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Jacob Chansley, 34 years-old, had pleaded guilty in September to one felony count of unlawfully obstructing an official proceeding. His colorful appearance the day of the riot – he wore face paint, carried a spear, and sported a Viking-style helmet – made Chansley one of the most recognizable members of the mob.
Before sentencing, Judge Royce Lamberth quipped to Chansley’s lawyer, “He made himself the image of the riot, didn’t he? For good or bad, he made himself the very image of this whole event.”
Chansley’s prison sentence is 10 months shy of what prosecutors asked for, but it matches the longest sentence imposed to date. Unlike rioter Scott Fairlamb – the other January 6th defendant to receive a 41-month prison term – Chansley was not accused of violence.
Yet, prosecutors said he was a key instigator. From their sentencing memo:
The defendant was among the first 30 rioters to penetrate the U.S. Capitol building. The defendant then stalked the hallowed halls of the building, riling up other members of the mob with his screaming obscenities about our nation’s lawmakers, and flouting the ‘opportunity‘ to rid our government of those he has long considered to be traitors.
The government cannot overstate the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct as a one of the most prominent figures of the historic riot. The severity of his actions, and respect for the laws of this country, must be impressed upon him.
NPR provides important context:
According to court papers, once inside the building, Chansley made his way up the Senate gallery, using his bullhorn to rile up other rioters. He entered the gallery, screaming obscenities, then proceeded down to the floor of the Senate, where he scaled the dais.
After a police officer asked him to leave, Chansley refused and said: “Mike Pence is a f****** traitor.” On the desk at the dais, Chansley scrawled a note on a piece of paper that read: “It’s Only A Matter of Time. Justice Is Coming!”
Court papers say Chansley also led rioters in an incantation over his bullhorn, which he concluded with the words: “Thank you for allowing us to get rid of the communists, the globalists, and the traitors within our government.”
Chansley, a Navy veteran, appeared contrite during Wednesday’s court appearance.
“I was wrong for entering the Capitol. I have no excuse — no excuse whatsoever,” Chansley said. “In retrospect, I’d do everything differently on January 6 … I would try with all my heart and soul to stop people.”
“The hardest part about this is to know that I’m to blame. To have to look in the mirror and know, you really messed up. Royally,” Chansley added.
CNN reports: “His sprawling speech held the attention of the judge, as Chansley quoted Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and “The Shawshank Redemption,” and described wanting to live his life like Jesus Christ and Gandhi.”
CBS News adds:
Chansley’s lawyer, Albert Watkins, has said his client disavowed the QAnon conspiracy theory and sought to distance himself from former President Donald Trump, after unsuccessfully petitioning him for a presidential pardon.
Watkins also made several attempts to get his client released from jail throughout the litigation process, at one point successfully petitioning the court to move Chansley between detention facilities so he could have access to organic foods in accordance with his shaman faith.
Chansley, who according to court filings suffers from schizotypal personality disorder, asked Lamberth to sentence him to a time-served prison penalty, meaning he would get full credit for the time he has already spent behind bars.
Lamberth agreed to credit Chansley with 317 days already served. He’s been jailed for over 10 months. Once released, he’ll be subject to three years of probation.