Iced Earth leader Jon Schaffer faces six criminal charges related to the tumultuous scenes at the United States Capitol building in Washington DC on January 6.
Having been photographed among angry protesters who invaded the Capitol while the US Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the November presidential election, Schaffer surrendered himself to the authorities on the afternoon of January 17, according to a statement from the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. The guitarist, who lives in Columbus, Indiana, will now face six criminal charges stemming from the violent protests, in which five lives were lost.
According to the FBI Indianapolis Field Office, the six charges Schaffer is facing are:
1) Intentionally entering or staying in any restricted building or land without legal authority
2) Disrupt the orderly conduct of government affairs
3) Consciously participating in an act of physical violence against any person or property in any building or restricted land
4) Violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building
5) Engage in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building
6) Parade, demonstration or picket in a Capitol building
Regarding charge number five, Schaffer was reportedly among the protesters who sprayed the Capitol police with ‘bear spray’, an extra strong form of pepper spray.
More than 200 people are currently under investigation by the FBI in connection with the January 6 insurrectional violence scenes.
In the wake of the violent clashes in DC, Schaffer’s bandmates released a statement expressing their opposition to the alarming scenes on the Capitol.
“We absolutely DO NOT tolerate or support riots or acts of violence in which the protesters were involved on January 6 in the United States Capitol building,” they wrote. “We hope that everyone involved that day will be brought to justice to be investigated and accountable for their actions.”
Jon Schaffer, Columbus, IN, was arrested in connection with the January 6 incident at the United States Capitol. Schaffer faces 6 charges, including involvement in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building. Schaffer was reportedly among the protesters who sprayed the Capitol police with “bear spray”.January 18, 2021