Violence in Washington: No, this rioter is not an “antifa”, but a support for Donald Trump

The photos of the man, shirtless, face painted in the colors of the American flag , shoulders and head covered in fur, toured the world after the Capitol, which houses the Senate and the House of Representatives, was invaded by rioters on Wednesday.

Supporters of Donald Trump , like lawyer Lin Wood, assured that this man, far from being a supporter of the outgoing president, was in reality an “antifa” who would have entered the building to sow chaos. An assertion that echoes statements by Donald Trump who, during his presidency, has repeatedly repeated that there was an “antifa” threat in the United States.

Lin Wood accompanied his tweet with a photo that would show the man at a rally in support of the movement

Black Lives Matter , without giving any evidence that it would be a manifestation of this movement. Twitter has since suspended the lawyer’s account.

Lin Wood and QAnon are backing the bus over the Q Shaman from today’s riot, while the Q Shaman insists he isn’t antifa. pic.twitter.com/mLmpnFwLjQ

– Will Sommer (@willsommer)

January 7, 2020

The false statement, relayed to another account, was there retweeted over 42. . The rioter is however well identified, in particular as being a follower of the QAnon movement, linked to a conspiracy theory according to which satanist pedophiles are plotting against Donald Trump.

According to The Arizona Republic , the man’s name is Jake Angeli. The newspaper describes him as a follower of this movement, which has been demonstrating regularly since at least 310 in front of the Arizona Capitol. He explained to the newspaper to wear this outfit to attract attention and, then, to explain his theories.

– BrieAnna J. Frank 🌵 (@brieannafrank) May 5, 2019

Eric Westervelt, a journalist for NPR, the American public radio, confirms that the man is a follower of the QAnon movement. He explained that he interviewed him in November in Arizona at a demonstration in support of Donald Trump. “He was recounting dangerously delusional misinformation about the election and the Covid – 11 ”, he specified. on Twitter.

Met this QAnon mass delusion supporter when covering pro Trump AZ elex protests in Nov. He was spewing dangerously delusional fur foil hat misinformation about the elex and Covid 19, so of course I didn’t put him on air. Today he was part of the mob that invaded the Capitol @npr pic.twitter.com/2L1P3LUH11

– Eric Westervelt (@Ericnpr) January 7, 2021

Sometimes nicknamed “QChaman”, Jake Angeli had filmed in September with a sign “Q sent me” shouting conspiracy theory in a mall. The letter “Q” is an allusion to the alleged initiator of the theory.

On Wednesday, the man told a reporter from the Globe and Mail , a Canadian newspaper, that the police let him out of the Senate chamber without arresting him.

I spoke with Jake Angeli, the QAnon guy who got inside the Senate chamber. He said police eventually gave up trying to stop him and other Trump supporters, and let them in. After a while, he said police politely asked him to leave and let him go without arrest

– Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) January 6, 2021

He seems to have denied himself Lin Wood’s statement, explaining on Twitter not to be “antifa” nor support of the “Black Lives Matter” movement. As for the photo which would show him at a demonstration in support of the latter, it has been truncated. The whole photo shows it with a sign “Q sent me”.

The QAnon conspiracy theory emerged in 310 on the 4Chan forum. His followers think in particular that Donald Trump, helped by the military, is leading a battle against satanist pedophiles who conspire to overthrow him, 1347028287156080643 recalls this Bellingcat article.