Feds Say Capitol Protesters Aimed 'To Capture And Assassinate Elected Officials'

Members of the pro-Trump mob that staged an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week intended "to capture and assassinate elected officials," federal prosecutors say in a new court filing against Jacob Chansley, also known as the "QAnon Shaman."

Chansley wore horns, face paint and fur as he stood on the Senate dais – where he left a threatening note for Vice President Pence, prosecutors say.

"It's only a matter of time, justice is coming," the handwritten note to Pence read, according to the court document. The note was left at the spot where, moments earlier, Pence had been poised to preside over a joint session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory over President Trump. Chansley told the FBI he believes Pence is a "child-trafficking traitor."

Chansley told investigators that he didn't mean the message to Pence as a threat.

"The Government strongly disagrees," prosecutors say.

[...] Chansley is charged with two felonies: obstructing the conduct of a law enforcement officer and obstructing an official proceeding. Prosecutors say that as he committed those actions, Chansley was also carrying a dangerous weapon – specifically, "a six-foot spear."

[...] It notes Chansley's status as a "shaman" within QAnon, which the prosecutors variously define as "a dangerous extremist group ... founded on an imaginary conspiracy theory," and a cult that "preaches debunked and fictitious anti-government conspiracy theories that a deep state is out to take down the current administration."

Describing the threat they say the defendant poses, the memo says, "Strong evidence, including Chansley's own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States Government."

Prosecutors also note that Chansley sought to mislead officials about his drug use. While he allegedly claimed to be a weekly user of marijuana, they note, he has described using peyote and mushrooms in his podcast (on which he uses the name "Jake Angeli"), describing the practice as part of his pursuit of spiritual insights.

There are also mental health concerns, the memorandum says: "Chansley has spoken openly about his belief that he is an alien, a higher being, and he is here on Earth to ascend to another reality."

[...] The memorandum says of Chansley:

"He believes that global elites are running the world, that United States leaders are part of a secret rings of child abusers who practice satanic worship, and other debunked theories.

"He has repeatedly demonstrated dramatic, erratic behavior, an inability to conform to societal norms, and an unwillingness to appreciate the consequences of his actions.

"He abides by his own belief system, acts accordingly regardless of the criminal consequences, and brings others along with him.

"His ability and willingness to conform his behavior to pre-trial supervision conditions appears to be virtually nil."

DC says nobody should come to Joe's inauguration b/c wuflu is super duper deadly. Then they bring in 30k troops and stuff them into one room. This is all bull***t and we see it. pic.twitter.com/RNZJJRf1bP

— Salty Cracker (@SaltyCracker9) January 14, 2021

Nothing says democracy like requiring 20k soldiers to install a new regime. pic.twitter.com/0xi2ozN3NU

— Syrian Girl 🎗️🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) January 15, 2021