Jacob Chansley, an Arizona native who was nicknamed the “QAnon Shaman” after being accused of rioting on January 6, 2021, though the Capitol security footage showed otherwise, while wearing face paint with animal fur and horns, aspires to run for Congress in 2024.
According to the Associated Press, the 35-year-old submitted a statement of interest last Thursday, indicating he wants to run as a Libertarian in next year’s election for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District seat.
Representative Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), announced in October that she would not run for re-election to her seat, which she initially won in 2018. Her term is set to expire in January 2025.
Chansley is widely recognized as the face-painted man who became the “very image” of the January 6 protest at the U.S. Capitol, according to one federal court.
Several photos and videos from the riot show Chansley carrying an American flag through the Capitol building while a mob of then-President Trump supporters clashed with police outside. Chansley clashed with no one and was escorted through the building by Capitol police.
Capitol Police officers took Chansley around the building, according to Capitol security footage. At one point, at least nine police officers were seen close to Chansley, but none of them tried to stop him.
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELChansley was arrested and charged in connection with the riot following the incident, even though he didn’t riot. In September 2021, he pleaded guilty to civil disorder and aggressive entry into the Capitol. The corrupt DC prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence from his defense attorney, and he saw no other way out than to plead guilty to avoid a longer prison sentence. He was sentenced to 41 months in jail in November 2021 and was sent to a Phoenix halfway house in March 2023 after serving around 27 months.
The QAnon Shaman said at his sentence hearing that he was “wrong for entering the Capitol” and did not justify his actions. He was looking at over a decade in prison if he didn’t plead out. What else was he going to say?
“I am in no way, shape, or form a violent criminal. No way a domestic terrorist,” Chansley stated. “I’m a good man who broke the law. I am truly repentant for my actions.”
He is one of almost 700 people sentenced in connection with Capitol riot-related federal charges. The entire thing was taken way out of proportion because the Democratic Party wanted to use the January 6 protest for political gain. They exploited the riot to the point where they held a kangaroo court for a January 6 committee where they withheld exculpatory evidence, blocked witnesses who would hurt their political witch hunt, and made up evidence out of whole cloth. It was a complete disgrace, and they destroyed the lives of hundreds of people, many of whom never entered the Capitol building.
