Spear-waving Trump fanatic is facing ten years in prison
THE man in a horned fur hat who became the ‘face’ of the Capitol riots was arrested last night.
A bare-chested Jacob Chansley, 33, appeared on front pages around the world wearing the hat and holding a spear with the American flag attached to it as he sat in Vice-President Mike Pence’s chair in the Senate.
The self-professed ‘Trump fanatic’ from Arizona was charged with knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, violent entry and disorderly conduct. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in jail.
Chansley, his face painted, was filmed roaming the halls of the Capitol and screaming at police officers. In an i nt e r vi e w wit h NBC News shortly before his arrest, Chansley gloated about forcing lawmakers to flee.
‘The fact that we had a bunch of our traitors in office hunker down, put on their gas masks and retreat into their underground bunker, I consider that a win,’ he said.
A nationwide hunt for other protesters continues. Adam Johnson, 36, a father- of- five who smiled as he strolled off with House leader Nancy Pelosi’s lectern was arrested in Florida on Friday.
He i s charged with unlawfully entering a restricted building, theft of government property, violent entry and disorderly conduct.
Handyman Richard Barnett, 60, was charged with unlawful conduct for breaking into Mrs Pelosi’s office and putting his feet on her desk. He has described himself as ‘ a white nationalist’ on social media.
The chief executive of a Chicago tech firm, Brad Rukstales, 56, has also been charged with disorderly conduct and entering a restricted building. Last night, he apologised for his ‘extremely poor judgment’ in joining the mob, saying: ‘It was the single worst decision of my life.’
More than 20 people have been arrested and charged with offences related to Wednesday’s riot.
The FBI has released dozens of photographs of those they are seeking and is using facial-recognition technology to hunt down the rioters.
The FBI is also looking into whether Wednesday’s storming of the Capitol was an inside job.
Many have questioned how rioters were able to so easily breach barriers, while footage has emerged of police officers opening fences and posing for ‘selfies’ with protesters.
A source said: ‘The rioters found their way to places like Nancy Pelosi’s office within a matter of minutes. These offices are not in public areas. Someone must have given them a roadmap. The FBI will question all Capitol staff and security members.’ The FBI declined to comment last night.
‘It was the single worst decision of my life’