American Jacob Chensley, who stormed the Capitol in a Viking costume, wanted to testify against former US President Donald Trump during his impeachment hearings. This was announced by his lawyer Albert Watkins to the Associated Press.
According to the defense attorney, Chensley has not yet spoken to any member of the Senate. At the same time, the lawyer stressed that, in his opinion, it is very important that the senators listen to those who have been subject to incitement from the ex-president.
Watkins also said that his client had previously been “extremely impressed” by Trump, but now feels frustrated by the politician's refusal to pardon the participants in the storming of the Capitol before leaving the presidency. “He felt as if the president had betrayed him,” the lawyer explained.
As the Associated Press notes, politicians supporting the impeachment of Trump may try to use the testimony of his supporters during the process. In addition to Chensley, to date, at least four other participants in the attack on the Capitol, who have been charged in connection with the riots, have declared that they “followed Trump's orders.”
Earlier, Chensley said that he felt deceived by the former American president.
Chensley was remembered for his appearance during the riots: he was wearing a fur hat with horns, his face was painted in the colors of the American flag, and he held a spear in his hands. After the assault, he was charged with hooliganism, forced entry and illegal presence on premises on the territory of the Capitol. The man's lawyer asked Trump to pardon him, but he did not. Chensley is currently in custody and awaiting trial.
It is known that Chensley has previously participated in rallies in support of Trump. He called himself “the shaman of QAnon (a conspiracy Internet community – approx. Lenta.ru )”.
On January 6, Republican protesters stormed the Capitol Building and surrounded the Senate Hall. The Senate and the House of Representatives interrupted a meeting at which it was planned to approve the results of the last elections. During the protests, the police detained almost 70 rioters, five people were killed. On January 14, the US House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump over the riots in Washington.
