Jacob Anthony Chansley, a self-described QAnon shaman, has been handed down a 10 year prison term for his role in the deadly riot at the US Capitol on January 6th.
Chansley was one of the most prominent faces from the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol, and his presence was seen in several viral videos. He was arrested in January after he was seen wearing a bright fur hat with horns, a blue face paint, and carrying an American flag on a spear. He was charged with one count of civil disorder and one count of aiding and abetting, and six counts of trespassing on restricted grounds.
Chansley had previously refused to enter a plea, and after skipping a sentencing hearing in April, he was sentenced to the maximum jail term that was set by US District Judge Royce Lamberth. The judge argued that Chansley had shown no remorse for his actions, and had a “lack of respect for the law” given that he had previously failed to show up for his sentencing hearing.
In his ruling, the judge noted that Chansley was a danger to the US due to his part in the violent mob, and stated that he risked setting a bad precedent if he didn’t hand out a substantial punishment. He also noted that Chansley had chosen to join the rioters despite knowing that they were there to stop the peaceful transfer of power.
The 10 year sentence sends a strong message to those who took part in the Capitol riot that they will be held accountable. This comes as an example of how the government will punish those who break the law and threaten violence to achieve their political goals.
In a pre-sentencing filing, Chansley apologized to the US for his actions, noting that he was sorry for his poor judgement. He claimed that he was never going to hurt anyone, and a psychiatrist who evaluated him before his sentencing said he posed little to no risk of future violence.
Chansley’s sentence shows that the US will not tolerate violence and extreme behavior in the name of political goals. He will have plenty of time to think about his actions while behind bars, and this outcome serves as a reminder to all those who followed him in the Capitol siege that breaking the law has serious consequences.
