QAnon Shaman was released from prison just weeks after January 6 footage aired

Jacob Chansley, better known as the QAnon Shaman, who entered the Capitol on January 6, 2021, wearing patriotic face paint and horns but shirtless, was released early from prison.

As of Thursday, reports from the Bureau of Prisons suggest so chansley, 35, was transferred from federal prison to a transition home in Phoenix, Arizona. In September 2021, Chansley pleaded guilty to civil riot charges and forcible entry into the Capitol. He and his attorney even signed a statement claiming that he entered the building through a broken door, that he “did not have lawful authority to enter or be in the building,” and that he “solely owned the gallery of the Senate”.

However, Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy recently released tens of thousands of hours of raw footage of the Jan. 6 events to Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Carlson, on the other hand, only aired a brief portion of this footage a few weeks ago. This footage contradicted claims that Chansley forcibly entered the Capitol and entered the gallery alone. Rather, the Capitol Police appeared to escort the unarmed Chansley throughout his time on the Capitol. When Chansley finally entered the Senate gallery, he prayed for the police who would “allow” them “this building.”

Now, just weeks after this footage was released to the public through Tucker Carlson’s program, Chansley has been released from federal prison after serving 27 months in prison, 11 of which were in solitary confinement. His attorney, Albert S. Watkins, praised the decision to release Chansley, who had been sentenced to three and a half years.

“Having served 11 months in solitary confinement before his sentence was handed down and only 16 months of his sentence thereafter, it is fitting that this gentle and intelligent young man be allowed to proceed to the next phase of what is undoubtedly a… Being more law-abiding and law-abiding will enrich life,” Watkins said in a statement.

Although the announcement of Chansley’s release to a transitional home came just weeks after Carlson aired what he described as “clearly exonerating” footage of Chansley in the Capitol, others have claimed the timing was merely coincidental.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with the media [or] public pressure,” said former federal prosecutor Neama Ramani, unconnected to the case. “Despite the violence of the Capitol riots, most rioters had little to no criminal records.”

According to the Daily Mail, federal inmates may be granted a 15% sentence reduction at the discretion of the BOP. They can also be transferred to temporary accommodation for the last 12 months of their sentence. The BOP did not respond to requests for comment from multiple outlets.

chansleyThe Arizona native is scheduled to be released from the transitional home on May 25.

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