Jacob Chansley, undoubtedly one of the most well-known individuals to have taken part in the breach at the United States Capitol on January 6th, was sentenced Wednesday to serve 41 months in prison for his role in the day’s events.
Chansley, who once described himself as the “QAnon Shaman,” was an ardent loyalist of former President Donald Trump who dressed himself in horns and a bearskin headdressHe painted his face with the colors and symbols of the U.S. flag the day before Congress was due to confirm the results of the 2020 presidential election. Chansely was part of a mob consisting of hundreds of Trump loyalists who believed that President Joe Biden had won the election through election fraud.
The Department of Justice (DOJ). Chansley was charged for a number of offencesThe offenses include knowingly entering or remaining within a restricted building or grounds without the legal authority. The department also alleged that Chansley left a threatening note to then-Vice President Mike Pence, which read “it’s only a matter of time, justice is coming.”
Many Trump loyalists, including the former President, believed that Pence had the authority overturning the election results. (Biden defeated Trump by 306 votes to 232 in the Electoral College. In fact, the day of certification was just before the attack on Capitol. Trump told his loyalists that he hoped Pence would do “the right thing” — implying he wanted his vice president to disregard the actual election results, and help him to stay president for another term.
Trump also encouraged his followers to march directly towards the Capitol to voice dissatisfaction at the certification of election. Telling his loyalists that if they attacked them, he would “never take back our country with weakness.”
Chansley claimed that he went to Washington, D.C., in January 2006. because of Trump’s prior calls for “patriots” to attend a rally.
Chansley must pay $100 restitution in addition to his 41-month sentence. Chansley will also be subjected 36 months of supervised freedom.
Prosecutors had demanded a longer sentence for the 34-year-old, arguing that his actions “made him the public face of the Capitol riot.” Chansley’s lawyers, meanwhile, maintained their client was “non-violent, peaceful and possessed of genuine mental health issues” at the time of his involvement in the attack on the Capitol.
His sentence is the longest of any person who participated in the breach. Scott Fairlamb from New Jersey, who is a gym owner, was sentenced last week. was also sentenced to 41 months in prison.
These long sentences are not typical of the challenges that Trump loyalists will have to face. analyses from this past summer surmised. Federal prosecutors will likely give first-time offenders who have made deals with them, a sentence of less than one year in prison, while others may not be sent to prison at all.
According to a DOJ website more than 600 individuals have been chargedby the department for their part in the attack on January 6 At least five people diedIt was caused by the breach of Capitol building that day.
