A Capitol troublemaker known as “QAnon Shaman” was detained until trial, after federal prosecutors in Arizona initially said his words and actions during January 6 siege show that the rioters’ intention was to “capture and murder” lawmakers. District Attorney General of Columbia Michael Sherwin said later that there is no “direct evidence” of capture and murder teams, and a prosecutor later followed that line in the memo asking a judge to keep him in detention, according to the The Associated Press.
Jacob Chansley, 33, of Arizona was indicted on January 11 by a federal grand jury on two criminal charges for interfering in law enforcement during the committing of civil disorder and obstructing a Congressional process, threatening Congressional officials and disorderly conduct. Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, was also indicted on four counts of misdemeanor.
Prosecutors say Chansley, a well-known figure at pro-Trump rallies in Arizona, is a “self-proclaimed leader” in the QAnon conspiracy theory movement. Images of a shirtless Chansley invading the Capitol wearing horns, a coyote tail headdress and face paint, carrying a megaphone and a spear, quickly went viral on social media. He is being held at a federal detention center in Arizona.
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In a detention memorandum filed on Thursday, American prosecutors in Arizona argue that Chansley would pose a “continuing danger to the community” and a risk of escape if he were released. While inside the Capitol, prosecutors argue, Chansley approached U.S. Capitol police officer Keith Robishaw and shouted that “this was their home, that they were there to get senators, and that they were there to take the Capitol, to get the leaders of Congress, “memo reads. “Chansley also used his megaphone to communicate that they were there to take several congressmen from the United States,” says the document.
The memo also says that “while Officer Robishaw was trying to calm the crowd, Chansley was using his megaphone to incite her”.
Prosecutors originally argued in the memo that “strong evidence, including Chansley’s own words and actions on the Capitol, supports that the Capitol rioters’ intention was to capture and murder elected officials of the United States government,” the Associated Press reported. But at a Friday hearing for Chansley in Phoenix, another prosecutor hit that line.
The prosecutor said the statement may be fair at the trial, but added that prosecutors did not want to mislead the court, according to the AP.
District Attorney General of Columbia Michael Sherwin told reporters on Friday that while there is no direct evidence from “kill or capture” teams, there are “bread crumbs” that suggest some level of coordination between some groups inside and outside the Capitol. Sherwin, whose office is leading the massive federal riot investigation, said that understanding the protester’s motives and the level of advance planning can take weeks or months.
In their action, Arizona prosecutors say Chansley entered the Senate chamber with a group of about 25 protesters, posed for pictures on the dais where Vice President Mike Pence had been minutes before, and left a note that said, “It’s just a matter of time. Justice is coming. ”
The next day, prosecutors said Chansley called the FBI office in Washington, admitted his involvement and described Pence as a “trafficker in child trafficking”, but said he did not intend the ticket to be a threat. When asked about the meaning of the note, he launched a “long diatribe”, describing current and past lawmakers, including Pence, former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President-elect Joe Biden as “infiltrators involved in various types of transgression. “
“Although he declared that his note was not a threat, the government strongly disagrees,” says the prosecution file.
Chansley was arrested on January 9, when he was unaware of a sealed warrant against his arrest, prosecutors say he drove to an FBI office in Phoenix with the intention of “continuing his interview”. He brought his headdress, spear, horns, face paint and megaphone in the trunk of his car, according to the memo.
Prosecutors describe Chansley as a “follower who has become a leader” in the QAnon ideology that has adopted dangerous conspiracy theories and described “hanged” lawmakers that he called “traitors” in social media posts.
“He has repeatedly demonstrated dramatic and erratic behavior, an inability to conform to social norms and a reluctance to assess the consequences of his actions,” says the document. “He follows his own belief system, acts accordingly, regardless of criminal consequences, and brings others with him.”
They say that Chansley also promised to return to Washington, DC for the inauguration of President-elect Biden.
“At this point in our nation’s history, it is difficult to imagine a greater risk to our democracy and community than the armed revolution of which Chansley has become the symbol,” prosecutors wrote.
Chansley’s lawyer Albert Watkins, however, painted a completely different picture in a statement on Thursday. Watkins said Chansley was unarmed, he was not violent and he surrendered peacefully to the FBI. The lawyer said Chansley and others who entered the Capitol did so at the direction of President Donald Trump, and asked Mr. Trump to forgive Chansley and other “peaceful-minded individuals who accepted the president’s invitation with honorable intent.”
“Mr. Chansley is an American; he served with honor in the US armed forces,” said Watkins’ statement. “He has zero criminal history. He is a nature lover, practices meditation routinely, is an active yoga practitioner and eats only organic foods. He took President Trump’s countless messages seriously. He believed in President Trump. As tens of millions of other Americans, Chansley felt – for the first time in his life – as if his voice was being heard. “
To date, more than 200 people are being investigated and more than 100 face local or federal charges in the January 6 riot that left five dead. Hundreds more charges are expected as federal investigators comb through tips, videos and social media to identify and arrest suspects across the country.
Those already charged face various charges, from curfew violations, illegal entry and disorderly conduct to theft, assault and weapon violations. A team of federal prosecutors is investigating more serious charges, including sedition and conspiracy related to “more heinous” acts on Capitol Hill, Sherwin said on Tuesday.
Catherine Herridge contributed reporting.