Judge denies request to overturn conviction of ‘QAnon Shaman’ for Jan. 6 incident.
Federal Judge Denies “QAnon Shaman” Jacob Chansley’s Motion to Vacate Conviction
A federal judge has denied the motion to vacate the conviction of Jacob Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” after newly released security footage showed Capitol Police officers seemingly escorting him during the January 6th Capitol riot.
Charged with Multiple Crimes
Chansley faced charges of civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering and remaining in a restricted building. He pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding and was sentenced to 41 months in prison in November 2021.
However, after serving 27 months, Chansley’s sentence was cut short due to the emergence of the security footage, which was aired by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Attorney’s Bid for Case Withdrawal
Chansley’s attorney, William Shipley, submitted a bid to withdraw and dismiss the case, arguing that the footage would have been favorable to his client during sentencing. Shipley stated, “We still believe the government has not provided a sufficient justification in that regard.”
Judge Rejects Motion
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, however, denied the motion in a 35-page opinion, stating that Chansley’s claims were without merit. Lamberth emphasized that Chansley’s acceptance of responsibility played a significant role in his sentencing.
Lamberth also criticized the Capitol security footage aired on Carlson’s program, calling it “replete with misstatements and misrepresentations” about the events of January 6th. Despite this, the judge acknowledged the evidence presented.
Controversial Footage Release
Carlson released the footage after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy granted him exclusive access to 40,000 hours of video from that day. The tapes showed Chansley being seemingly assisted by Capitol Police officers, leading Carlson to suggest that Chansley believed they were his allies.
Chansley initially apologized after pleading guilty to his involvement in the Capitol riot, but he recently expressed regret for his plea after being released from prison early.
Ryan Saavedra contributed to this report.
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