Weeks after he said he wasn’t a “violent man”, Jacob Chansleybetter known as QAnon Shaman or simply “The Man with the Horns”, will be released from prison early. He was one of the leaders of the storming of the United States Capitol in 2020.
The activist is being held in a rehabilitation center in Arizona for participating in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. He arrived there after spending a few months in a federal prison complex after being sentenced to 41 months in prison in November 2021 .
Its new release date is May 25th. He was originally set to be released in July, but as a federal prisoner he was able to get the benefit of a reduced sentence.
QAnon, the most recognizable rioter in the violent incident, was found guilty on a federal charge of obstructing an official proceeding. Chansley was seen dressed as a bison during the riots and attracted international press attention.
In the assault on the Capitol, the supporter of Donald Trump he was one of a subgroup of protesters who entered the Senate chamber and occupied the politicians’ seats. Shaman sat at the Senate president’s desk and refused to leave when asked by police.
Previously, the character had taken countless photos inside the building.
At his 2021 sentencing hearing, Chansley had said his actions were “indefensible” and that he had “no excuse” but argued that “in no way is he”a dangerous criminal”.
“I am not a violent man. I am not an insurrectionary. I’m certainly not a domestic terrorist. I’m nothing like these criminals I’ve been incarcerated with,” he told the judge.
Recently, a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson hinted that sentence reductions have changed in frequency since the 2018 First Step Law was enacted.
The assault on the Capitol today
On January 6, 2021, a group of supporters of former US President Donald Trump interrupted a session of the Legislature in Washington to certify Joe Bien’s victory in the 2020 election.
Supporters stormed the Capitol, breaking down doors, scaling walls and occupying parts of the building for hours, including the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Nancy Pelosi and the seats of the senators.
Lawmakers made their way through the corridors as police tried to drive off the intruders with tear gas.
The balance was 5 dead: a policeman, a former soldier and three people who have suffered “medical emergencies”.
More than two years after it occurred, the investigation is progressing slowly. In January 2023 there were 192 people in prison for the assault on the Capitol. More than 950 have been arrested for their involvement.
The investigation brought to justice members of extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers militia, who spearheaded the assault, but also other Trump supporters who were fueled by lies about vote-rigging they the first spread at the time president.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.