One of the most instantly recognizable people from the January 6 Insurrection has pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to his role in the siege at the Capitol.
Jacob Chansley, the so-called QAnon Shaman, cut a deal with federal authorities in which he would accept a guilty plea for one felony count, obstruction of an official proceeding. Chansley, whose lawyer once argued should be pardoned by then-President Trump because his client believed he was only following orders, faces between 41 and 51 months in prison per sentencing guidelines for that charge.
The first person sentenced for the same charge related to the Jan. 6 riot was given an eight-month sentence. According to HuffPost Justice reporter Ryan Reilly, prosecutors believe Chansley’s sentencing range is higher. He has already served eight months time while waiting for resolution of his case.
Chansley’s attorney says his client, whose headdress, horns and facepaint made him a familiar figure around Phoenix before he became one of the faces of the Capitol riot, no longer wants to be associated with the QAnon cult. It should be noted that Chansley passed a court-ordered competency test to make sure he was fit for legal proceedings.
With this plea agreement, 51 of approximately 600 people who have been charged in connection with the January 6 riot have entered guilty pleas. Most have been for misdemeanor offenses like disorderly conduct.
At least another 11 defendants are scheduled to plead guilty by the end of October.
