New Jan. 6 Footage Shows Capitol Police Escorting QAnon Shaman To Senate Floor

Newly released surveillance footage from the January 6 Capitol riot shows two Capitol Police officers escorting Jacob Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” through the halls of the Capitol and to the door of the US Senate. The footage, which was aired on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show, shows Chansley bare-chested, wearing face paint and a fur hat with Viking horns. The officers are seen walking Chansley past seven other police officers outside the Senate chamber, who barely give him a second look. Eventually, they help him open a door and he enters the chamber.

Chansley, a Navy veteran from Arizona, has been jailed for almost four years for “obstructing an official proceeding.” In a statement, the Capitol Police suggest that one of the officers with Chansley was trying to “de-escalate” the situation because he was outnumbered. However, this does not explain why Chansley, who was unarmed, was able to walk past seven more officers without being apprehended.

According to Carlson, the footage suggests that the Capitol Police acted as Chansley’s “tour guides” and never tried to stop him. Carlson also questions why Chansley, who is portrayed in the media as a dangerous conspiracy theorist, was able to walk freely with the assistance of the Capitol Police. In a jailhouse interview played by Carlson, Chansley expressed regret for believing that he was allowed in by the police officers.

The footage raises questions about the actions of the Capitol Police during the January 6 riot and their role in allowing Chansley to enter the US Senate. It also challenges the narrative that Chansley was the face of the violent insurrection to overthrow America’s democracy.