Jacob Chansley
Jacob Anthony Chansley (born c. 1988), also known as Jake Angeli and the "QAnon Shaman," is an American conspiracy theorist, spiritual activist, and former U.S. Navy veteran who achieved widespread recognition for his prominent role in the January 6, 2021, breach of the United States Capitol.[1] Enlisting in the Navy in 2005, Chansley served as a supply clerk aboard the USS Kitty Hawk until his discharge in 2007 following refusal to receive the anthrax vaccine.[2] During the Capitol events, he entered the building, ascended to the Senate dais, and led chants among participants while clad in a fur-lined horned headdress, red-white-and-blue face paint, and carrying a spear-adorned flagpole, becoming one of the most visually iconic figures captured in footage and photographs.[3] Charged with civil disorder, violent entry, and obstruction of an official proceeding, Chansley pleaded guilty to the latter felony in September 2021 and was sentenced to 41 months in prison in November 2021, though he was released early in 2023 after serving approximately 27 months.[3][4] On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a pardon to Chansley as part of a broader clemency action for January 6 defendants, restoring his rights including firearm ownership.[5] Prior to his legal troubles, Chansley promoted shamanic practices, QAnon-related theories, and anti-establishment views through public appearances and social media, positioning himself as a voice for spiritual awakening and opposition to perceived government overreach.[6]
Early life and background
Childhood and family
Jacob Anthony Chansley was born in 1988 and grew up in the greater Phoenix area of Arizona.[7] His biological father struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and was incarcerated for much of Chansley's life, resulting in minimal contact; the two met only once, briefly, around 2018 or 2019.[8] Chansley's stepfather was also an alcoholic and drug user who subjected him to physical and mental abuse; Chansley provided care for the stepfather until the latter's suicide by pills and alcohol in May 2013.[8] Chansley's mother, Martha Chansley, worked full-time to support the family and recognized early signs of potential mental health challenges in her son but lacked financial resources for specialized treatment, instead promoting exercise and nutrition as coping mechanisms.[8] The family's limited socioeconomic means contributed to an unstable home environment marked by parental substance abuse and absence.[8]Education and formative experiences
Jacob Chansley graduated from Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2005.[9] During his time there, he participated in the math club, reflecting an early interest in analytical pursuits.[10] Following high school, Chansley enlisted in the United States Navy in 2005 and served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk until 2007.[11] His naval career concluded prematurely after he refused the mandatory anthrax vaccine, resulting in an administrative discharge.[2] [2] No records indicate attempts at higher education beyond high school.Professional and spiritual pursuits
Occupational history
Chansley enlisted in the United States Navy in 2005 and served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk until 2007.[12] His naval career concluded following his refusal to receive the anthrax vaccine, resulting in an other-than-honorable discharge.[2] After leaving the military, Chansley pursued acting opportunities in Arizona.[13] He was identified as an actor based in the state, though his professional success in the field remained limited.[14] Additionally, he worked as a children's care worker prior to heightened public attention in 2020.[15] Chansley's pre-2020 work history reflects intermittent engagement in service-oriented and creative roles, with no records of long-term entrepreneurial ventures or fitness-related training positions in Arizona.[13] [15] This pattern suggests economic instability, as his pursuits did not yield consistent full-time employment leading into the events of 2021.[14]Emergence as a shamanic practitioner
Jacob Chansley developed his self-identified shamanic identity through personal spiritual exploration, adopting the persona "Yellowstone Wolf" to represent his practices. He has stated that this name reflects his connection to nature and animal spirits, utilizing it in conjunction with ritualistic attire including horned headdresses, fur elements, and symbolic face paint during public appearances.[16][17] Chansley's shamanic expressions involved promoting alternative healing modalities, such as energy work and spiritual guidance sessions, which he presented as means to achieve personal transformation and wellness. These activities, conducted in settings like local events in Arizona, emphasized direct communion with higher consciousness and rejection of conventional medical paradigms in favor of intuitive, nature-based rituals.[16][14] His practices drew inspiration from diverse sources, including elements reminiscent of Native American ceremonial traditions—such as vision quests and animal totems—blended with broader New Age and eclectic spiritual frameworks. Chansley has clarified his approach as a self-forged path not tied to any specific indigenous lineage or tribal authority, distinguishing it from authenticated cultural transmissions while inviting scrutiny over potential superficial emulation. This synthesis positioned shamanism for him as a universal tool for inner awakening, independent of ethnic or institutional validation.[18][19][20]Engagement with political movements
Pre-2020 activism and beliefs
![Chansley in his shaman dress at an event in Phoenix, Arizona.](./assets/Jacob_Chansley_$53423556636 Jacob Chansley began participating in public demonstrations in Phoenix, Arizona, around 2019, often dressed in shamanic attire featuring face paint, fur headdress, and symbolic accessories. On September 20, 2019, he joined a climate strike march from the Maricopa County Courthouse to the Arizona State Capitol, demanding action on environmental issues while promoting his spiritual worldview.[21] These appearances marked his entry into visible activism, blending pagan-inspired rituals like drumming and chanting with calls for societal transformation.[22] Through his online platforms, including a YouTube channel active before 2020 and Twitter accounts such as @USAwolfpack, Chansley shared content as a self-described "spiritual & political consultant." Videos and posts emphasized personal wellness, metaphysical awakening via his Starseed Academy initiative, and skepticism toward institutional authority, including hints at elite influences undermining individual sovereignty.[22] [23] His average YouTube video garnered about 288 views, reflecting a niche but dedicated following.[22] Chansley's pre-2020 engagements demonstrated ideological consistency with later positions, focusing on resistance to perceived systemic control without originating specific theories. He aligned as a supporter of emerging online communities like QAnon, which critiqued government secrecy and corruption, though his public endorsements intensified in 2020; this support stemmed from his stated belief in deeper conspiratorial dynamics predating widespread attention.[24]Participation in the 2020 election challenges
Following the November 3, 2020, U.S. presidential election, Jacob Chansley participated in protests in Arizona challenging the results on grounds of alleged irregularities. On November 7, 2020, he attended a "Stop the Steal" rally in Phoenix, where demonstrators gathered to dispute media projections of Joe Biden's victory and demand investigations into voting processes. Chansley, dressed in his distinctive shamanic attire, was photographed among the crowd advocating for election audits. In mid-December 2020, Chansley traveled to Washington, D.C., to join a "Stop the Steal" rally on December 12, organized to pressure Congress and state officials over certification of electoral votes. This event drew thousands protesting what participants described as systemic fraud in battleground states, including Arizona. His involvement aligned with the broader movement led by figures like Ali Alexander, which mobilized supporters through online platforms to contest outcomes in multiple states via lawsuits, legislative challenges, and public demonstrations.[25] Chansley's participation stemmed from his conviction that evidence of voter fraud—such as affidavits from poll watchers, statistical anomalies in vote counts, and procedural deviations in mail-in balloting—invalidated the results, as he articulated in pre-January 6 social media videos and rally addresses.[26] He urged followers to support recounts and decertification efforts, framing non-action as complicity in undermining constitutional elections. These views echoed claims circulated in conservative media and by Trump campaign allies, though courts repeatedly dismissed related lawsuits for lack of substantiation.[27]Events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021
Jacob Chansley attended the rally near the Ellipse organized by supporters of President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, and subsequently marched with tens of thousands of participants down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the U.S. Capitol.[8] Around 1:50 p.m., he was observed at the police line on the Capitol's West Front, where he climbed a media tower while dressed in his distinctive shamanic attire, shirtless with face paint, wearing a horned fur headdress, and carrying a spear-tipped flagpole and bullhorn.[28] By 2:00 p.m., he had advanced past barricades with the crowd to the Capitol's exterior, positioning himself amid protesters pushing toward the building.[28] At approximately 2:10 p.m., Chansley moved onto the Upper West Terrace scaffolding after the crowd overran police lines, and by 2:14 p.m., he entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Door shortly after others had broken adjacent windows and doors, becoming one of the first 30 individuals inside the building.[28] Video evidence and CCTV footage document his entry without direct involvement in breaking the windows or doors themselves.[28] Once inside at 2:16 p.m., he ascended to the second floor and used his bullhorn to challenge U.S. Capitol Police officers, demanding the location of lawmakers.[28] He proceeded through the building, engaging in shamanic chants while bearing the spear-tipped pole.[8] Chansley navigated to the Senate chamber, entering the gallery around 2:52 p.m. and later reaching the floor, where he scaled the dais, sat in the presiding officer's chair, took photographs, and left a note reading, “It’s Only A Matter of Time. Justice Is Coming!”.[28] On the dais, he led a group in prayer, thanking divine forces for the opportunity to deliver a message to "tyrants, communists, and globalists.".[28] He also visited the Speaker's office during his time inside.[8] At 3:09 p.m., after approximately eight minutes on the Senate floor, officers escorted him out as he shouted "FREEDOM!".[28] Official records, including video footage, show no documented instances of Chansley committing physical violence or property damage during these events.[8][28]