Jacob Chansley, the “QAnon Shaman,” Sentenced to 41 Months in Jail

By  November 17, 2021

D.C. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth today sentenced Jacob Chansley, the so-called “QAnon shaman,” to serve 41 months in prison for his role in the January 6 protest at the Capitol building.

Chansley, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony applied to at least 220 Capitol protester cases. The post-Enron law was not intended to be used against  political protesters; this is the first time the U.S. Department of Justice has charged political protesters with the felony count, which is publishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Chansley turned himself in to law enforcement on January 11; he since has spent 317 days in jail, nearly all in solitary confinement. Lamberth twice denied Chansley’s release and again ordered him to remain incarcerated after his September plea agreement.

Joe Biden’s Justice Department accused Chansley—who committed no violent act and has no criminal record—of being a domestic terrorist and recommended a harsh jail sentence to “deter” future domestic terrorists. “The need to deter others especially in cases of domestic terrorism, which the breach of the Capitol certainly was,” assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall wrote in the government’s sentencing memo. Biden’s Justice Department set the sentencing range between 41 and 51 months and asked for the maximum prison time.

Paschall admitted in court that Chansely did not destroy any property or assault a police officer but claimed his conduct was “not peaceful.” Contrary to allegations contained in the government’s filings, Chansley walked through an open door on the east side of the building and spoke with Capitol police, who told Chansley and others that “we’re not against . . . you need to show us . . . no attacking, no assault, remain calm.”

Paschall called Chansley’s “vitriolic messages” posted on social media before January 6 “a call to battle.” Pashcall accused Chansley of leaving a “chilling” note to Vice President Mike Pence that warned “justice is coming.” The peaceful transfer of power, Paschall told Lamberth, is “why our government is so strong and so special.”

Chansley’s lawyer, Albert Watkins, repeatedly praised the Justice Department for its handling of the January 6 investigation. Watkins told Lamberth that Chansley has been denied access to family members since January. A court-ordered psychological examination concluded Chansley, an Navy veteran, suffers from personality disorders.

In a heartfelt plea to Lamberth, Chansley asked for mercy, explaining the trauma he endured during 10 months in solitary confinement. He said he suffered from starvation, isolation, and depression that was exacerbated by the death of his grandfather while he was behind bars. “The fact I wasn’t there eats me up every day,” Chansley told Lamberth, a Reagan appointee. Chansley repeatedly admitted his guilt and expressed remorse for what he did. “I was in jail because I committed a crime.”

Lamberth commended Chansley’s remarks—“the most remarkable I’ve ever heard”—but nonetheless sentenced Chansley to 41 months in prison. “What you did was horrific,” Lamberth lectured. Noting Chansley did not attack a police officer, Lamberth told Chansley he “made himself the epitome” of what happened on January 6 and lamented the “serious nature of the crime itself.”

Chansley’s 317 days in jail under pretrial detention orders will apply as time served.

Julie Kelly is a political commentator and senior contributor to American Greatness. She is the author of Disloyal Opposition: How the NeverTrump Right Tried?And Failed?To Take Down the President. Her past work can be found at The Federalist and National Review. She also has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, and Genetic Literacy Project. She is the co-host of ‘Happy Hour podcast with Julie and Liz.’ She is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two daughters.

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November 18, 2021 | 6 Comments »

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  1. EXCLUSIVE: John Pierce and William Shipley Take Over Defense of ‘QAnon Shaman’
    By Cassandra Fairbanks

    Attorneys John Pierce and William Shipley are taking over the defense of Jacob Chansley, best known as the “QAnon Shaman.”

    Chansley has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for, essentially, taking photos in the Capitol on January 6. He is likely the most recognizable figure from the protest, due to his elaborate outfit.

    On Monday, the lawyers filed Notice of Appearance on behalf of Chansley and will be representing him in all further legal matters regarding his attendance at the January 6 protests.

    Chansley’s legal representation will be funded by the National Constitutional Law Union (NCLU), a registered non-profit organization created to assist Americans in defending the Constitution and their Constitutional rights from encroachment by the government.

    In a statement provided to the Gateway Pundit by the NCLU, the organization announced that the legal team will be filing a claim of “Ineffective Assistance of Counsel” on behalf of Chansley.

    “Mr. Chansley will be pursuing all remedies available to him under the Constitution and federal statutory law with respect to the outcome of the criminal prosecution of him by the United States Department of Justice,” the NCLU statement read. “This includes a possible direct appeal of his conviction and sentence to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, as well as claims of ‘Ineffective Assistance of Counsel’ in the appropriate venue.”

    Two days prior, Albert Watkins, the lawyer previously representing Chansley, sent a message to former President Trump through the media to take care of “the jackasses that you f—– up because of January 6.”

    The expletive-filled rant caused many to question how committed he had been to Chansley’s defense.

    “You can contribute to the NCLU by visiting its website at http://www.nclu.com. Every dollar counts in the effort to securing fair and just outcomes for Americans charged by the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice,” the statement concluded.

    Isn’t Shipley aka shipwreckcrew?

  2. Interesting.

    Kyle Rittenhouse (a member of the American “Heimwehr” and an “Aryan”) has been acquitted of the murder of 2 people and of wounding of some others because of “self-defense”.

    This basically harmless nut (officially diagnosed) Chansley who dressed weirdly, posted a couple of messages, and showed complete remorse, has been sitting in the solitary BEFORE being convicted and has been sentenced to 41 months in jail!

    Most likely because his lawyer buried him, the poor guy couldn’t afford a top notch attorney.

    Notice, how those who incited the mob – Trump and Giuliani – are completely ignored by the “justice” system, as though they don’t even exist.

  3. Chansley turned himself in to law enforcement on January 11; he since has spent 317 days in jail, nearly all in solitary confinement. Lamberth twice denied Chansley’s release and again ordered him to remain incarcerated after his September plea agreement.

    This guy must be a real danger to the public at large if he needed to be kept in solitary confinement for so long (almost like forever!)
    I bet they released a couple of murderers due to lack of space in prison!

  4. Chansley not only was nonviolent, but he urged others who had entered the Capitol building to be nonviolent as well. A security guard allowed him and a group of people he was leading to enter the building after they promised to avoid any violence or vandalism. All this was caught on video and has been broadcast nationally by several “alternative” news sites and social media pages. 41 months for illegal entry (and it may not even have been illegal) is obviously vindictive and wrong.

  5. That’s so cruel!
    And so hard to understand the justification for such harshness.
    The guy walked in with police’s permission.
    Did not damage, anything or hurt anyone.
    What is he punished for?

    The only reason this is possible is because the corrupt media supports it.

  6. Jacob Chansley is a prime example of a real political prisoner – and the communist witches of Red China, North Korea and the old Soviet Union would no doubt admire the fascist tactics of the Biden NO Justice Dept, under the direction of the most despicable AG in American history, Merrick “Heil Hitler!” Garland! What a total POS!! Thank God he did NOT gain that appointment to the SCOTUS!!