"QAnon Shaman" Jacob Chansley is throwing his headdress into the ring for an Arizona congressional seat.
Chansley, who served 27 months in prison for breaking into the U.S. capital on Jan. 6, 2021, filed a statement of interest last Thursday to run as a Libertarian in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District election, according to the Associated Press.
The current representative for the Arizona district, Republican Debbie Lesk, announced she would would not seek reelection after serving in office since 2018. Republicans Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh are currently the front-runners for her seat, with Chansley entering the race as an Independent.
Chansley, infamous for donning face paint and a horned headdress while storming the capital, pleaded guilty in 2021 to obstructing a federal proceeding. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison, but only ended up serving 27 for exhibiting good behavior.
New stats on Jan 6
During his trial, he turned against former president Donald Trump and offered to testify against him after Trump ignored his request for a pardon. He also denounced the QAnon movement, and claimed he was "groomed" by MAGA ideology.
The QAnon movement, as defined by the Anti-Defamation League, is comprised of individuals who believe in a conspiracy theory where a "Deep State" cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles (high-powered Democrats and Hollywood elites) control the world, with former President Donald Trump portrayed as the sole savior against them.
Chansley did not only tout QAnon signs at the capital insurrection, but could also be seen at events across the country at the time wearing his costume, and holding signs with slogans such as “Q Sent Me."
According to his statement of offense admitting guilt in the Jan. 6 insurrection, Chansley wrote: “The fact that we had a bunch of our traitors in office hunker down, put on their gas masks, and retreat into their underground bunker, I consider that a win.”
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