QAnon shaman ‘wounded’ over lack of Trump pardon, says he stopped rioters from ‘stealing muffins’

Rioter says he ‘actually stopped somebody from stealing muffins’ and brought ‘positive vibrations’ to the Senate

The so-called ‘QAnon Shaman’ has spoken publicly for the first time since his arrest and admitted to feeling “wounded” by Donald Trump refusing to pardon him.

He was among hundreds arrested after the former president’s supporters stormed the US Capitol on 6 January, claiming they were doing so at Mr Trump’s behest.

Jacob Chansley, who stood out in video footage because of his distinctive outfit, told CBS 60 Minutes on Thursday that the former president’s refusal to pardon him and other rioters had “wounded” him, although he remained supportive of Mr Trump.

"I developed a lot of sympathy for Donald Trump because it seemed like the media was picking on him and seemed like the establishment was going after him unnecessarily or unfairly,” said Mr Chansley.

“I had been a victim of that all of my life,” he told CBS. “Whether it be in school or at home. So in many ways I identify with a lot of the negative things that he [Mr Trump] was going through.”

Read more:US intelligence investigating links between Capitol rioters and members of Congress

Mr Chansley, following his arrest for storming the Capitol, had called for a presidential pardon in Mr Trump’s final days in office, but was refused. Despite that, he remained faithful and still believes the election was fraudulent.

"I honestly believed and still believe that he cares about the Constitution, that he cares about the American people,” Mr Chansley continued. “That's also why, and you know, it wounded me so deeply and why it disappointed me so greatly that I and others did not get a pardon.”

The rioter, who appeared at the Capitol bare chested with horns and animal furs, added to CBS 60 Minutes that he had not attacked the building, but was there to provide “positive vibrations”.

“My actions were not an attack on this country. I sang a song,” Mr Chansley said, while admitting that he “regretted” breaking into the Capitol. “That’s a part of Shamanism, it was about creating positive vibrations in a sacred chamber [the Senate]”.

“I also stopped people from stealing and vandalising that sacred space,” he continued. “OK, I actually stopped somebody from stealing muffins out of the break room.”

“I consider myself a lover of my country. I consider myself a believer in the Constitution. I consider myself a believer in truth and our founding principles. I consider myself a believer in God,” Mr Chansley added.

On Friday, a court is due to hear arguments as to whether or not Mr Chansley should be released on bail, while awaiting trial on charges, CBS reported.

Prosecutors allege that he wielded a weapon — a spear attached to a flagpole — and left a threatening note for former vice president Mike Pence.

Mr Chansley’s lawyers fought for him to receive organic food from the facility in Washington DC where is awaiting trial, on grounds of his shamanistic beliefs.