The man who participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 while wearing face paint and a horned headdress says he feels betrayed by former President Donald Trump and is willing to testify against him at the upcoming Senate impeachment trial.
The Associated Press reports that an attorney for the man — who has been nicknamed the “QAnon Shaman” — is looking to make a deal:
“Lawyer Albert Watkins said he hasn’t spoken to any member in the Senate since announcing his offer to have Jacob Chansley testify at Trump’s trial, which is scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 8. Watkins said it’s important for senators to hear the voice of someone who was incited by Trump.
“Watkins said his client was previously “horrendously smitten” by Trump but now feels let down after Trump’s refusal to grant Chansley and others who participated in the insurrection a pardon. “He felt like he was betrayed by the president.'”
Five people, including a police officer, were killed in the riots which many believe Trump urged his supporter to carry out.
Chansley, who has been charged with civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and demonstrating in a Capitol building. He has not yet entered a plea to those charges.
According to Chansely, he showed up at the Capitol on the 6th because he believed Trump wanted him to:
“Court records indicate Chansley told investigators he attended the riot specifically ‘at the request of the president that all ‘patriots’ come to D.C. on January 6.”
Trump’s impeachment trial is set to begin in the Senate on February 8. It remains unclear whether or not the former president will testify in his own defense. At the moment, it appears that only a handful of Republican senators are willing to consider the possibility of finding Trump guilty if the evidence supports a conviction.
Featured Image Via NBC News
