Sunday, July 16, 2023

Made in Arizona:: Jake Angeli -- The 'QAnon Shaman' and other Capitol rioters who regret pleading guilty | BBC News

Angeli has used his notoriety to boost his profile since exiting prison. He has a podcast, runs online courses and sells merchandise on his website - including selling $44 flags, $33 t-shirts and $17 mugs.

The 'QAnon Shaman' and other Capitol rioters who regret pleading guilty

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Jacob Angeli Chansley inside the Capitol during the riot of 6 January 2021IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Jacob Angeli Chansley inside the Capitol during the riot of 6 January 2021

A growing number of Capitol rioters have gone back on their guilty pleas and apologies - including one of the most recognisable faces from 6 January.

Standing in court, Jacob Angeli Chansley, known as Jake Angeli, seemed like a changed man.

Shorn of the horned headdress, furs and face paint that helped earn him the nickname the QAnon Shaman, he was pleading guilty to obstructing an official proceeding. The charge stemmed from his part interrupting a joint session of Congress, and carried a maximum prison term of 20 years.

"I am truly, truly repentant for my actions, because repentance is not just saying you're sorry," he said. "Repentance is apologising and then moving in the exact opposite direction of the sin that you committed.

"In retrospect, I would do everything differently on January 6th."

A judge called his apology "the most remarkable I've heard in 34 years" and sentenced him to 41 months in prison - considerably less than the maximum allowed.

Now more than a year-and-a-half later, Angeli is out of jail early, and his remorse is gone.

"Regrets only weigh down the mind," he told the BBC. "They're like sandbags on a hot air balloon."

Mr Angeli - minus his Shaman clothing - speaking to the BBC
Image caption,
Angeli - minus his Shaman clothing - speaking to the BBC

His about-face is such that he is even taking his case back to court to ask his guilty plea to be reversed. And he is far from the alone in changing his mind about the events at the Capitol. . .

Capitalising on the Capitol riots

In addition to walking back regrets, a number of rioters have tried to capitalise on their involvement in the riots in a number of ways.

Derrick Evans, a former member of the West Virginia state legislature, resigned his post after being arrested. He pleaded guilty, apologised in court, and served three months in prison.

Now he is running for a seat in the US House of Representatives, and he refers to himself and other defendants as "political prisoners"..."We're finally at the point where people such as myself, who went through this January 6 process and have already served our time in prison, are finally able to start speaking out and sharing the truth," Evans said.

  • The ferocity of feeling in some quarters means that some rioters have been able to raise funds - or social media clout - off of their newfound fame.

On one popular Christian site, GiveSendGo, there are at least 150 campaigns mentioning the Capitol riot which have collectively have raised more than $4.1m (£3.2m)...

Risky territory

John P Gross, a criminal law expert at the University of Wisconsin, said that having a change of heart can carry legal risks.
The concept of "trial penalty" means that in general, defendants who plead guilty receive lighter sentences than those convicted after a trial. 
  • Judges also have leeway to impose harsher sentences if they believe defendants aren't truly sorry.
"A judge can absolutely take lack of remorse into consideration when sentencing," he said. "I would tell a client, under no terms whatsoever should you be saying anything to the media between when you are plead and when you are sentenced."
But what happens if someone has already served their time, and wants to take it all back?
In order to change his guilty plea, Angeli must convince a judge he received ineffective representation from his original lawyer, Albert Watkins. He now says that statements his lawyer made in an attempt to mitigate his crimes weren't true.
"I never said I was duped by Trump," he told the BBC. "I never denounced Q or the QAnon community… and I am not schizophrenic, bipolar, depressed or delusional." . .

> More details BBC News

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