Now Out Of Jail After January 6th Insurrection, The 'QAnon Shaman' Is Running For Congress In Arizona

Jacob Chansley, best known as the "QAnon Shaman," is running for Congress just months after being released from prison for his role in the January 6th Storming of the U.S. Capitol. He will be running as a Libertarian in Arizona's 8th Congressional District.

Chansley was arguably the face of the January 6th riot protesting the 2020 Election results for his outlandish getup, which included facepaint and a fur, horned headdress, who was widely photographed walking through the halls of the Capitol and onto the Senate floor during the incident.

He was then placed in prison shortly after the riot, sentenced to 41 months in prison in November 2021 and was eventually released in March earlier this year, 14 months before the completion of his sentence, to a halfway house.

During court proceedings, his lawyers stated he denounced QAnon and former President Trump. At his November sentencing, he admitted he was wrong for entering the Capitol.

Online, news of his run inspired numerous eye rolls, for whatever transformations Chansley may have undergone in his character, many people largely remember him as a Capitol rioter, and for that reason, several expressed disappointment that he is allowed to run for Congress.

Chansley enters a crowded field for the Congressional seat, including more established political figures like Arizona House speaker Ben Toma, former Senate candidate Blake Masters, former Arizona Attorney General candidate Abe Hamadeh and state Sen. Anthony Kern, who was also at the January 6th riot.