Arizona resident Jacob Chansley, a rioter on January 6, 2021, is known as the “QAnon Shaman” and his image is ubiquitous on television because he has his face painted Full of animal pelts and horns, he plans to run for Congress in 2024.
The 35-year-old filed a declaration of interest last Thursday that, according to The Associated Press , indicates Chansley hopes to run as a Libertarian in next year’s election for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District seat.
Arizona Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko, a 64-year-old woman first elected in 2018, announced in October that she would not seek re-election.
Her term will officially end in January 2025.
Chansley, 35, is widely seen as a shirtless man with face paint who, according to a federal judge, became the “poster child” of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Numerous photos and videos from the riot show Chansley carrying an American flag through the Capitol as a mob of President Trump’s supporters violently confronted police outside.
Video from the Capitol shows Chansley being escorted around the building by Capitol Police. At one point we saw at least nine police officers.
After the riot, Chansley was arrested and charged in connection with the riot.
He is guilty of civil disorder and violent entry into the Capitol in September 2021.
Chansley was sentenced to 41 months in prison in November 2021 and was transferred to a Phoenix halfway house in March 2023 after serving approximately 27 months.
In a lengthy speech at his sentencing hearing, Chansley said he “was wrong to enter the Capitol” and did not defend his actions.
Chansley said: “I am in no way, shape or form a violent criminal … in any way a domestic terrorist. I am a good person who has had problems with the law … and I feel genuine remorse for my actions.”
He is one of more than 700 people sentenced for federal crimes related to the Capitol riot.
Chansley previously called himself a “QAnon shaman” but has since disavowed the QAnon movement.