Says He’s Disappointed Donald Trump Did Not Pardon Him, But Doesn’t Regret His Loyalty to Him

An Excerpt from the Interview with Jacob Chansley Appeared on “CBS This Morning”

Jacob Chansley, the “QAnon Shaman,” who the world saw bare-chested and wearing a fur helmet with horns during the Jan. 6 riot in the Capitol, denies his actions that day were an attack. He tells 60 MINUTES+ correspondent Laurie Segall in his first interview since his arrest that he intended to “bring God back into the Senate,” not attack it. He also says though he is disappointed then-President Trump didn’t pardon him, he does not regret his loyalty to him. Chansley, a some-time actor and a Navy veteran, speaks for the first time about that day on the premiere episode of 60 MINUTES+ now streaming on Paramount +.

Chansley is one of over 300 people charged with crimes in connection with the assault on the Capitol. He has been charged with two felonies and four misdemeanors, including violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. He is currently in jail. Segall speaks to him via computer remotely from the office of his lawyer, Al Watkins, who says Chansley is facing 20 years in prison.

Chansley speaks about the Jan. 6 event at length in the interview and addresses questions about the note he left on then-Vice President Pence’s desk. He also talks about then-President Donald Trump.

Segall also speaks to his mother, Martha Chansley.

Excerpts from the interview were broadcast on CBS THIS MORNING today. The text of those excepts is below. Please credit 60 MINUTES+ on Paramount+.

LAURIE SEGALL: Your actions on Jan. 6 were an attack on this country. Do you understand that–

JACOB CHANSLEY: No, they were not, ma’am. My actions were not an attack on this country. That is incorrect. That is inaccurate, entirely–

SEGALL: How would you describe them?

CHANSLEY: My actions personally?

SEGALL: –on Jan. 6.

CHANSLEY: My actions on Jan. 6, how would I describe them?

CHANSLEY: Well, I sang a song. And that’s a part of shamanism. It’s about – creating positive vibrations in a sacred chamber. I also stopped people from stealing and vandalizing that sacred space, the Senate. Okay? I actually stopped somebody from stealing muffins out of the break room. And I also said a prayer in that sacred chamber. Because it was my intention to bring divinity, and to bring God back into the Senate.

SEGALL: But Jake, legally, you were not allowed to be in what you’re calling the sacred chamber.

CHANSLEY: And that is the one very serious regret that I have, was believing that when we were waved in by police officers, that it was acceptable.

SEGALL: Do you still believe you’re a patriot?

CHANSLEY: 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.

SEGALL: what was it about Donald Trump that you felt so fiercely loyal to that you hung on every word–

CHANSLEY: Well, in all honesty, th–

SEGALL: –and you interpreted his words in certain ways?

CHANSLEY: I developed a lot of sympathy for Donald Trump. Because it seemed like the media was picking on him. It seemed like the establishment was going after him unnecessarily or unfairly. And I had been a victim of that all of my life, whether it be at school or at home. So in many ways, I identified with a lot of the negative things that he was going through. And I honestly believed – and still believe – that he cares about the constitution. That he cares about the American people. And that’s also why, you know, it wounded me so deeply, and why it disappointed me so greatly that I and others did not get a pardon.

SEGALL: do you regret that fierce loyalty?

CHANSLEY: I regret entering that building. I regret entering that building with every fiber of my being.

SEGALL: But you don’t regret the loyalty to Donald Trump?

CHANSLEY: No.

ABOUT 60 MINUTES+:

60 MINUTES+, a streaming version of the most-watched news program in America, premiered on Paramount+ in March 2021. 60 Minutes+ features longer segments reported by a new team of correspondents. Just like the flagship, the new version reveals the stories behind the news through original reporting and captivating interviews conducted by some of the best journalists in the world – the recipe that makes 60 MINUTES television’s longest running hit. The 60 Minutes+ correspondents are Enrique Acevedo, Seth Doane, Wesley Lowery and Laurie Segall.

About Paramount+:

ViacomCBS’ existing subscription video-on-demand and live streaming service, CBS All Access, was rebranded as Paramount+ on March 4, 2021 as part of the service’s expansion to feature content from ViacomCBS’ leading portfolio of broadcast, news, sports and entertainment brands. ViacomCBS will also bring Paramount+ to international markets with an initial debut in Australia, Latin America and the Nordics in 2021.

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