A judge sentenced Jacob Chansley, also known as the “Q’Anon Shaman,” to 41 months in prison for his role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
CNBC noted the sentence is on the low end of the 41 to 51 months in prison recommended. Prosecutors called on the judge to sentence Chansley to 51 months in prison.
Investigative reporter for WUSA9, Jordan Fischer, live tweeted moments from the sentencing hearing on Twitter. Chansley told the judge he believes in “freedom,” adding, “It’s why I joined the military. I’m willing to die for it. But I also believe in law and order, because without law and order you can’t have freedom.”
He continued, “I had to come to terms with the fact that I was in solitary confinement because of me. Because of my acts. I broke the law! If I broke the law, that means that I should do what Gandhi would do and take responsibility, even if it incriminates me.”
Chansley: "I had to come to terms with the fact that I was in solitary confinement because of me. Because of my acts. I broke the law! If I broke the law, that means that I should do what Gandhi would do and take responsibility, even if it incriminates me."
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) November 17, 2021
He argued if he did not “like the ruling on the field, I should not have behaved in a way that caused the Department of Justice to throw a flag.”
Chansley acknowledged he was “wrong for entering the Capitol. I have no excuse. No excuse. My behavior was indefensible.”
Chansley says he came to some conclusions while in solitude: "I was wrong for entering the Capitol. I have no excuse. No excuse. My behavior was indefensible."
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) November 17, 2021
Claiming he is a “good man who broke the law,” Chansley explained, “I’m not a violent criminal. I’m not an insurrectionist. I’m not a domestic terrorist.”
The “Q’Anon Shaman” also suggested he is “nothing like” other individuals he is in jail with. According to Chansley, they act like they’re in the “Holiday Inn.”
Chansley says he's "nothing like" the other people he's incarcerated with. Says they act like they're in the "Holiday Inn."
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) November 17, 2021
Complimenting the judge, Chansley told him, “I honestly believe I couldn’t have asked God for a better man to judge my character.”
He continued, “I hope that you see my remorse is genuine. I hope you see that my acceptance of responsibility is real.”
Chansley: "I hope that you see my remorse is genuine. I hope you see that my acceptance of responsibility is real."
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) November 17, 2021
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth told Chansley, “I guess the basic problem I have, in considering a departure downward, is that, although you have evolved in your thinking in many ways, what you did here was horrific. Obstructing the government…is so serious that I cannot justify a downward departure.”
He added, “What you did was terrible. You made yourself the center of the riot.”
Judge Lamberth: "What you did was terrible. You made yourself the center of the riot." Starts talking about his sentence for Scott Fairlamb, who assaulted police. Says he takes no pleasure in these sentences.
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) November 17, 2021
Still, Lamberth recognized Chansley made “some very good remarks today, and I appreciate that. I think you’ve come a long way.”
Judge Lamberth: "You made some very good remarks today, and I appreciate that. I think you've come a long way."
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) November 17, 2021
The sentencing comes a week after an individual videotaped punching an officer during the riot was sentenced to 41 months in prison. As Reuters notes, he was the first rioter to receive a sentence for violence against law enforcement.
