The lawyer representing the so-called “QAnon Shaman” who stormed the U.S. Capitol with a bizarre appearance says President Trump must forgive his client before he leaves office next week.
Lawyer Al Watkins said his client Jacob Chansley, 33, was acting at Trump’s invitation when he and others forced him into the Capitol on January 6, when Congress formally counted the votes of the Electoral College to certify the President-elect Joe Biden.
“A president’s words and invitation must mean something,” Watkins said in a statement to the Kansas City Star newspaper.
Chansley “took President Trump’s countless messages seriously,” he added.
“Like tens of millions of other Americans, Chansley felt – for the first time in his life – as if his voice was being heard.”
Chansley, who also goes by the names of Jake Angeli or QAnon Shaman, went viral for his wild outfit during the rebellion, which included a furry horn hat and red, white and blue face paint.
The shirtless conspiracy theorist also brandished a spear from which an American flag hung while he performed himself on the United States Senate stage.
“His attire was consistent with his old shaman beliefs,” said his lawyer.
Chansley surrendered on Saturday and faces charges of disorderly conduct, violent entry and illegality in restricted spaces within the Capitol.
But Watkins said his client behaved “in a peaceful and accommodating manner” during the siege, which left five dead, including a police officer.
“He was unarmed. He was not violent. He was not destructive ”- and deserves clemency from the commander-in-chief who stepped down, said the lawyer.
“It would be appropriate and honorable for the president to forgive Mr. Chansley and other like-minded peaceful individuals who accepted the president’s invitation with good intentions,” said Watkins.
Meanwhile, Chansley is being held in federal prison in Phoenix, Arizona, pending charges in Washington, DC for his role in the insurrection.
A judge recently ruled that Chansley should be allowed to obtain organic food according to his strict shaman diet behind bars, after he refused to eat anything else.