Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying rioter whose horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint made him one of the more recognizable figures during the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, wants to return to the scene of the crime as a member of Congress.
Online paperwork shows that 35-year-old Chansley filed a candidate statement of interest last Thursday, indicating he wants to run as a Libertarian in next year’s election for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District seat.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, a 64-year-old Republican who has represented the district since 2018, announced last month that she won’t seek re-election in November 2024.
Her term officially ends in January 2025. Whoever wins the Republican primary in the solidly Republican district stands a good chance of holding the seat for a long time if that person so chooses.
The QAnon Shaman, Jacob Chansley, now wants to run for Congress in next year’s election for Arizona ‘s 8th Congressional District seat
Chansley is seen wearing a Freedom shirt outside a halfway house center in Phoenix in April following his early release from prison
In paperwork filed with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office he identified himself as Jacob Angeli rather than his legal last name, Chansley, which was used to charge and convict him for his role in the attack
Chansley pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding in connection with the Capitol insurrection.
During his trial, Chansley was described by prosecutors as ‘the public face of the Capitol riot.’
Him being shirtless with a horned headdress saw him stand out from other rioters who stormed the Capitol.
He was sentenced to 41 months in prison in November 2021 and served about 15 months before being transferred to a Phoenix halfway house in March 2023.
He was released two months later in May. Chansely grew up in the greater Phoenix area.
With his elaborate garb and face paint, Chansley became known as the face of the Jan 6 riot
Chansley, with his bullhorn, is seen on January 6, 2021 inside the Capitol
Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman, became an infamous symbol of the January 6 attack on Congress. Despite being a convicted felon he can still run for office
Video in Chansley’s indictment showed him standing at Vice President Mike Pence’s chair in the Senate and pumping his fists in the air
The infamous Capitol rioter was pictured in April sporting a black beanie and t-shirt that read ‘Stand for something or fall for anything’
Chansley is among the more than 700 people who have been sentenced in relation to Capitol riot-related federal crimes.
Authorities said Chansley was among the first rioters to enter the Capitol building and he acknowledged using a bullhorn to rouse the mob.
Once inside the building, Chansley strode into the chambers of the Senate and took the dais.
He left a note for Vice President Mike Pence stating: ‘It’s only a matter of time. Justice is coming!’
Although he previously called himself the ‘QAnon Shaman,’ Chansley has since disavowed the QAnon movement.
Upon his release, he suggested that he wanted to reverse his guilty plea.
In paperwork filed with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office he identified himself as Jacob Angeli rather than his legal last name, Chansley, which was used to charge and convict him for his role in the attack.
The U.S. Constitution does not prohibit felons from holding federal office, but Arizona law prohibits felons from voting until they have completed their sentence and had their civil rights restored.