Capitol rioter dubbed ‘QAnon Shaman’ allegedly sought to kill officials, left Pence a note
The self-styled “QAnon Shaman” seeking a pardon from President Trump for storming the US Capitol sought to kill elected officials during the deadly siege — and left a threatening note for Vice President Mike Pence, federal prosecutors said.
Jacob Anthony Chansley — the 33-year-old Arizona man seen inside the Capitol wearing a bearskin headdress and red, white and blue face paint — was among the rioters who plotted to capture lawmakers once inside the building, .
“Strong evidence, inclu𓂃ding Chansley’s own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States government,” federal prosecutors in Phoenix wrote.
The 18-page memo also alleges that Chansley, who remains held in a federal lockup in Phoenix, left behind a note for Pence on the Senate chamber dais — just minutes after the vice president left.
“It’s only a matter of time, justice is coming,” theﷺ note🐬 read, according to federal prosecutors.
When asked about the note, Chansley launched into a “lengthy diatribe” accusing curren𝓰t and former elected officials of being “infiltrators,” including Pence, President-elect Joe Bi🦹den, former President Barack Obama and former Sen. Hillary Clinton, claiming they took part in “various types” of wrongdoing.
“Although he stated his note was not a threat, the government strongly d🌜isagrees,” the memo continued. “Chansley acted on conspiracy theories he has repeatedly espoused in becoming one of the highest-profile membersꦆ of a group that attacked a Congressional proceeding, and nothing suggests he has learned from that experience so as to avoid it if on pre-trial release.”
Federal prosecutors characterized Chansley in the memo as a danger to the public and a “symbol of the insurrection and assault” on the Capitol who wanted to kill government “traitors,” citing a November tweet from his personal account.
“As demonstrated by his tweet below, Chansley has also previously espoused identifying and then ‘hanging’ ‘traitors’ within the United States government,” court docs show.
Chansley also planned to return to Washington for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, prosecutors allege.
“And his repeated and demonstrated unwillingness to conform to societal rules suggests a pending criminal case will not stop him,” they wrote in court documents.
A judge has previously ruled Chansley should receive organic food while behind bars awaiting trial in accordance with his strict shaman diet. He had previously refused to eat non-organic grub — with his mother claiming he gets “very sick” gobbling regular fare.
