‘QAnon Shaman’ Jacob Chansley Can Get His Viking Headdress & Spear Back, Judge Orders

Washington, D.C. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that “QAnon Shaman” Jacob Chansley must be given back his headdress and spear.

On January 8, 2021, Chansley, whose real name is Jake Angeli, was arrested after he took part in the January 6 Capitol attack.

He was seen in photos shirtless, in red, white and blue face paint with a horned helmet inside the Capitol building on January 6 when protesters supporting the former president stormed the building to try to stop Congress from counting electoral college votes. He was charged with intentionally entering or staying in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, as well as with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. 

In footage from that day, Chansley could be seen pumping his bicep on the dais in the Senate chamber. The rioter pleaded guilty on September 3, 2021, to charges related to his involvement in the Capitol attack, according to court records.

The six federal crimes he was charged with include felonies for civil disorder as well as obstructing congressional proceedings.

In November 2021, Chansley was sentenced to 41 months in prison but was released for good behavior after serving only 27 months and sent to an Arizona halfway house. 

He currently has two years left of his court-supervised release.

On August 5, Lamberth ruled that federal prosecutors must return his Viking-inspired clothes to him.

Prosecutors argued that it should remain in the government’s possession if Chansley contests his conviction at some point in the future, but the judge disagreed. 

“Even if the government may need to reprove Mr. Chansley’s guilt, the government has not explained why it would need his property,” Lamberth stated. “As there is voluminous video and photo evidence of Mr. Chansley’s conduct, his property is of little utility for an investigation or prosecution.”

He also mentioned that it “is not clear how Mr. Chansley could contest his conviction as he has been sentenced, abandoned his direct appeal, and seen his motion denied.”

The Justice Department suggested keeping the items as part of a civil forfeiture but needed to take steps to do that, according to the court record.