Made known by his painted face, Viking tattoos, horned headdress and furs, the "QAnon Shaman" or Jake Angeli—real name Jacob Anthony Chansley—has once again appeared in the news as his health is now in dramatic decline.
Chansley quickly became the face of the January 6 insurrection as he and other Donald Trump supporters followed what they believed to be Trump's orders to storm the Capitol.
Chansley's attorney, Albert Watkins, previously stated former President Trump provoked the group, citing Trump's statement at a rally that occurred shortly before the insurrection.
"If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."
Watkins stated Chansley confided to him what Trump's statement meant to him:
"[Chansley] felt like he was answering [the President's call for action."
"He felt like his voice was, for the first time, being heard. and what ended up happening, over the course of the lead-up to the election, over the course of the period from the election to January 6. . ."
". . . It was a driving force by a man he hung his hat on, he hitched his wagon to."
"He loved Trump. Every word, he listens to him."
According to the attorney, Chansley believed storming the Capitol was the way to respond to his President's call.
The QAnon Shaman was one of the first people to be arrested when police overtook the insurrection, and since, Chansley has been struggling.
Upon his arrest, Chansley and his attorney requested that he receive organic food during his time in jail, due to religious and health-related concerns.
The last time he was recorded to have eaten was on January 25, when he requested either canned vegetables, wild-caught tuna, or organic canned soup.
Chansley's attorney urged the judge to reconsider, as his client has lost more than 20 pounds since his arrest and his physical condition was in decline.
In his written appeal, Watkins described Chansley's religious beliefs that impacted his diet:
"[Due to his] shamanic belief system and way of life, [food that is not organic and that contains] unnatural chemicals [would cause Chansley to experience] systemic responses that are not simply discomforting, but debilitating and, notably, dehydrating."
"Non-organic food, which contains unnatural chemicals, would act as an 'object intrusion' onto his body and cause serious illness if he were to eat it."
"An 'object intrusion,' is the belief that disease originates outside the body from unhealthy objects coming into the body."
"In shamanic traditions, the body, mind, and soul are interconnected, and the well-being of all three are necessary for my client to be able to practice his faith."
Chansley also added his thoughts to the appeal:
"I will continue to pray thru the pain and do my best not to complain."
"I have strayed from my spiritual diet only a few times over the last 8 years with detrimental physical effects."
"As a spiritual man, I am willing to suffer for my beliefs, hold my convictions, and the weight of their consequences."
The judge ultimately decided to grant Chansley a diet rich in organic foods, so his condition would improve, but there was a caveat.
The judge and Chansley's attorney had also been in talks about the possibility of Chansley being released from prison early, or given the possibility of making bail, since he had no other criminal record, had followed orders since being arrested, and had thoroughly cooperated with the FBI.
The judge exchanged this discussion, however, for the organic food, though he said the conversation could be picked up again in the future, with the possibility of Chansley making bail as early as March 2021.
Those following the situation on Twitter did not support this development.
Well, the people have spoken.
It's unclear what will happen next with Jacob Chansley, but it's certain this isn't the last we've heard of him.
@jessicachastain/Instagram
