Self-styled 'QAnon Shaman' Jacob Chansley reportedly screamed “freedom” as he learned of his presidential pardon - and is now looking forward to buying guns following his release.
The 37-year-old rioter, who was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in the January 6, 2021 storming of Capitol Hill, is one of hundreds of MAGA-supporting protestors released from prison after Trump took office.
Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire in a bizarre Newsnight interview following his release, Chansley explained that he was in the gym when his lawyer told him that he was being released.
“I walked outside, and I screamed ‘freedom’ at the top of my lungs and then gave a good Native American war cry,” he explained during the interview.
At other points, he appeared to refuse to answer Ms Derbyshire’s questions when pressed on why he pleaded guilty over his role in January 6.
Chansley - a former QAnon believer - became a symbol of the far-right January 6 riots. A picture of him carrying a spear, wearing horns and red, white and blue face paints went viral following the riot.
At least five people died in connection to the riots, including a police officer, as far-right extremists tried to stop the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s electoral win in 2021.
The incident drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, but Mr Trump was notoriously subdued in his criticism at the time.
Following the riots, Chansley pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding, telling a court at the time: “My behaviour is indefensible.”
This week, he was among 1,500 people the new President has pardoned in a move that surprised many US officials. A further 211 people were released from prison following Trump’s executive order.
Following his release, Chansley told The Independent: “Our rights are given to us by God not government. Freedom is our natural state of being. My spirit is free, I was born to be wild [and] I am gonna travel around the country now that I finally can!”
He also took to social media to explain what he first planned to do with his newfound freedom.
“Now I am gonna by some motha f***in guns! I love this country! God Bless America,” Chansley said on X.
“J6ers are getting released [and] justice has come. Everything done in the dark will come to light.”
Some reports have suggested that Trump’s recent pardon will embolden far-right groups within an already polarised country.
