The Capitol Hill rioter photographed in a horned and furry hat turned himself in to federal authorities in Arizona on Saturday and was charged for his role in the deadly mob violence that shut down the US Capitol on Wednesday, the Arizona Republic reports.
Like many of the rioters, Jacob Anthony Chansley, a.k.a. Jake Angeli, returned home after he left the Capitol building but called the FBI to identify himself as the man in red, white, and blue face paint who was also photographed on the dais in the Senate chamber, carrying a six-foot spear with an American flag attached.
Chansley, 33, reportedly told the FBI that he went to the capital “as part of a group effort, with other ‘patriots’ from Arizona, at the request of the President that all ‘patriots’ come to D.C. on January 6, 2021,” according to a sworn statement of facts filed to secure an arrest warrant.
That statement of facts said that agents identified Chansley, who appeared shirtless in the Capitol, by his multiple intricate tattoos, many of which are pagan symbols that have been coopted by white supremacists. Chansley has frequently appeared at pro-Trump and anti-vote counting rallies in his home state in similar attire, and has appeared in the same on his Facebook and YouTube channels.
The Arizona Republic said Chansley often appears at rallies with a hand-made sign that says “Q sent me,” a reference to the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory that says Donald Trump is on the verge of revealing a vast world-wide conspiracy of politicians and entertainment figures — mostly Democrats — who kill children and drink their blood, among other outrageous ideas.
Chansley refused an interview with the Republic when he returned from Washington this week but told NBC News he did nothing wrong. “I walked through an open door, dude,” he said.
Chansley has been charged with entering a restricted building without authority to do so, disrupting the conduct of government business, knowingly entering either chamber of Congress or adjacent rooms without authorization, and parading or picketing in any Capitol Building, the Department of Justice said.
U.S. Marshal David Gonzales told the Republic that Chansley will appear at an extradition hearing Monday in Phoenix and is expected to be returned to Washington for trial.
Five people died during Wednesday’s mob attack on the Capitol, including a Capitol Police officer who died after battling with the rioters.
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[Featured image: Jacob Chansley, aka Jake Angeli/(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)]
