'QAnon Shaman' pleads guilty over his part in pro-Trump Capitol riot

Jacob Chansley’s attorney is trying to get him released from prison ahead of the sentencing

Jacob Chansley, the so-called "QAnon Shaman," has pleaded guilty to a charge of obstruction of an official proceeding from his role in the Capitol riot.

Chansley – who famously wore buffalo horns and a cape during the Capitol riot – faces a maximum possible sentence is 20 years in prison and up to $260,000 in fines. However, other Capitol rioter defendants who have pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding have been given eight-month sentences.

The prosecutor revealed that the government’s sentencing guidelines are likely to recommend a prison term of between 41 and 51 months for Chansley.

Chansley signed the plea deal on Wednesday.

Al Watkins, his defence attorney, indicated that he planned to push for a pre-sentencing release of his client. Chansley has been locked up in Alexandria, Virginia since just after the Capitol riot.

He made headlines after his initial jailing in Washington, DC, when he went on a hunger strike because the jail would not honour his dietary needs. He was later moved down the river to Alexandria, where his dietary requests could be granted.

Mr Watkins made his own headlines earlier this year when he described the Capitol riot suspects as "short bus people" and "retarded." He said he used the offensive language intentionally to get press attention for his client, which he felt he was being denied.

He argued that the justice system was not being compassionate towards people with "mental health vulnerabilities," counting many of the Capitol riots– including Chansley.

The attorney now wants to move his client to an "idyllic" location where he can receive mental health treatments and be surrounded by family.

Mr Watkins said that being held in solitary confinement was the “worst” thing that could be done to someone suffering mental health problems. He asked for “patience and compassion” for Chansley, noting that he was “possessed of genuine mental health issues which rendered them more vulnerable to the propaganda of the day.” In past interviews, Mr Watkins likened Donald Trump and the right wing media sphere to Hitler and Nazi propaganda.

The judge noted that he would be willing to hear Chansley's explanation of the events, as none of the charges facing the man stem from violence. According to the judge, had the defendant attacked a police officer or otherwise engaged in violence "his hands would have been tied."

More than 1,000 people listened in on Chansley’s press call. On rare moments when the listeners were taken off mute, the voices of what sounded to be teenage boys yelled “freedom.”