Elon Musk uses Tucker Carlson’s edited Jan. 6 footage to argue for release of jailed ‘Q-Anon Shaman’

Twitter CEO Elon Musk called for the release of the jailed Trump supporter and Q-Anon follower Jacob Chansley, who is incarcerated for his role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol Building, saying Tucker Carlson’s edited footage from the riot shows he should be freed.

Chansley, who is known as the “Q-Anon Shaman” is one of the most widely-known faces of the January 6, 2021 insurrection on the US Capitol. Chansley entered the Capitol Building wearing a horned fur headdress and shirtless, to interrupt the bipartisan proceedings that would certify the results of the 2020 election. 

Musk Tweeted on Friday, “Free Jacob Chansley,” along with a video from Tucker Carlson, who was granted access to all the security footage from the riot by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a controversial move that incited criticism from both sides of the aisle. Carlson has used heavily edited footage on his show to attempt to paint the insurrection as a peaceful event.

When a Twitter user commented accusing Musk of being part of the MAGA movement, Musk replied, “I’m not part of MAGA, but I do believe in fairness of justice. Chansley was falsely portrayed in the media as a violent criminal who tried to overthrow the state and who urged others to commit violence.” He continued, “But here he is urging people to be peaceful and go home. And the other video shows him calmly walking in the Capitol building, being escorted by officers and then thanking the officers.”

Footage from the January 6 attack shows Chansley broke into the Capitol Building and unlawfully entered the Senate chamber, where he made his way to the chair where former Vice President Mike Pence sat. Chansley was convicted of felony charges of disrupting an official proceeding. He was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison.