'QAnon Shaman' released from prison 14 months early
So-called 'QAnon Shaman' and Capitol rioter Jacob Chansley has been moved out of prison 14 months before his initial release date.
Chansley was sentenced in November 2021 to 41 months in prison following his involvement in the 6 January riots at the US Capitol, where he was pictured in the government building wearing American flag-themed face paint and a fur hat with horns.
He pleaded guilty to a federal charge of obstruction of an official proceeding.
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At his sentencing hearing, Chansley described his actions as 'indefensible', admitting he had 'no excuse' for his behaviour on the day of the riots.
"I am in no way shape or form a dangerous criminal," he said.
"I am not a violent man. I am not an insurrectionist. I am certainly not a domestic terrorist. I am nothing like these criminals that I have been incarcerated with."
Federal prosecutors were forced to comment on Chansley's behaviour more recently after footage of him was shown by Fox News' Tucker Carlson.
In response to a request to throw out the case, prosecutors said Chansley was 'part of the initial breach of the building'.
"He confronted law enforcement for roughly 30 minutes just outside the Senate Chamber; he gained access to the gallery of the Senate along with other members of the mob (obviously, precluding any Senate business from occurring); and he gained access to and later left the Senate floor only after law enforcement was able to arrive en masse to remove him," the prosecutors said.
He served 27 months in prison following his sentencing, but federal prison records now indicate Chansley has been released from prison and transferred to a 'residential reentry management' facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
In a statement to the MailOnline, Albert S. Watkins, the lawyer who handled Chansley's plea and sentencing, confirmed the move as he said: "After serving eleven months in solitary prior to his sentence being imposed, and only 16 months of his sentence thereafter, it is appropriate this gentle and intelligent young man be permitted to move forward with the next stage of what undoubtedly will be a law abiding and enriching life."
"I applaud the decision of the US Bureau of Prison in this regard," Watkins added.
Chansley was just one of among approximately 1,000 people who were charged for their roles in the Capitol attack.
Emily Brown