Horned DC protester makes first appearance in court, refuses to eat in detention

PHOENIX – The man with the horned headdress during the US Capitol rebellion made his first appearance in a federal Phoenix court on Monday.

Jacob Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, appeared on the phone while being held in a quarantine section of a detention center.

Chansley, who is from Phoenix, surrendered to the FBI field office after returning from Washington, DC, on Saturday morning. He is accused of intentionally entering or staying in any restricted building or land without legal authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds.

Both charges are federal misdemeanors.

The 33-year-old conspiracy theorist QAnon has been a frequent participant in pro-Trump rallies in Phoenix in recent months. He often appeared in a horned costume, a fur cap and shirtless beige pants.

Chansley politely addressed the judge, but made no statement about the charges against him. He said he could get in touch with a friend who could provide him with a private lawyer.

“I’m not too worried about that because, to be honest … I didn’t break any laws. I walked through open doors, “said Chansley in an interview on Thursday with ABC15 reporting partner Newsy.

The public defender representing Chansley in a Phoenix court on Monday said Chansley was on an extremely restrictive diet, perhaps for religious reasons, and had not eaten since he was taken into custody.

The judge said this was “deeply worrying” and ordered Chansley’s public defender to work with the US Marshals on food issues.

Chansley’s mother was in court on Monday.

In an interview on Thursday with ABC15, Martha Chansley did not apologize for her son’s role in the violent and deadly disorder of Congress. Members had to be evacuated while trying to certify the votes in the November presidential election.

Martha Chansley referred to her son as a “patriot” and “the kindest person I know”.