American knows him as the “QAnon Shaman,” his real name is Jacob Anthony Chansley and he is having some regrets about what happened on January 6 at the Capitol.
Chansley proudly stormed the Capitol building that day wearing a horned bearskin headdress, war paint, and no shirt as seen in the photos that have been viewed by millions on social media. He is now saying he feels “duped” by the former president because he has not received a pardon for his crimes committed at the Capitol.
Watkins added Chansley also lamented “being in a position where he allowed that duping to put him in a position to make decisions he should not have made.”
The lawyer told the Associated Press he has yet to speak to any lawmakers about the offer and senators have not voted whether to allow witnesses during the trial, which failed in a vote during Trump’s first impeachment trial.
Watkins said it’s important for senators to hear the voice of someone who was allegedly incited by Trump. He described Chansley as having been “horrendously smitten” by Trump but said when he didn’t receive a pardon following the riot he felt “betrayed.”
Chansley is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday in Washington, D.C. where he faces charges of civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and demonstrating in a Capitol building among other counts.
Watkins argued last week that his client was practically “invited” into the Capitol by Trump and egged on to take extreme action to reverse the election results.
“Let’s roll the tape,” he told KSDK. “Let’s roll the months of lies, and misrepresentations and horrific innuendo and hyperbolic speech by our president designed to inflame, enrage, motivate.”
In successfully seeking his detention until trial, prosecutors said Chansley went into the Capitol carrying a U.S. flag attached to a wooden pole topped with a spear, ignored an officer’s commands to leave, went into the Senate chamber and wrote a threatening note to then-Vice President Mike Pence.
Chansley, who has long been a fixture at Trump rallies, told investigators he came to the Capitol “at the request of the president that all ‘patriots’ come to D.C. on January 6,” according to court records.
The Shaman was being held in his home state of Arizona until his scheduled arraignment in Washington, D.C.
