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Who is Jake Angeli? 'QAnon Shaman' who stormed Capitol in Viking horns is a regular at 'voter fraud' protests

Angeli has also 'protested' outside the Maricopa County, Arizona Elections Office after conspiracy theorists spread falsehoods that the election was being stolen from President Trump

Shocking scenes unfolded after pro-Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building in Washington DC on Wednesday as Congress was certifying Joe Biden's win in the 2020 election. Two buildings were evacuated and employees, reporters, and others who were nearby started posting videos and photos of the chaotic scenes before them. The viral videos and photographs circulating on Twitter show one bare-chested man in particular, wearing a fur hoodie with 'Viking' horns with the American flag painted on his face. He led other protesters into the Senate chambers, some waving Confederate flags, as staff and lawmakers vacated the premises in a hurry.

The man has been identified as Jake Angeli, 32, a well-known QAnon figure called “QAnon Shaman”. Previously, Angeli has also 'protested' outside the Maricopa County, Arizona Elections Office after conspiracy theorists spread falsehoods that the election was being stolen from President Trump.

Angeli is one of the more recognizable faces among the crowds storming the Capitol building that has resulted in a curfew being called. The QAnon movement believes President Trump is secretly waging war against the Deep State to take down a global satanic pedophile ring.

Twitter users commented on Angeli's appearance and how he had stormed into the Senate chambers. Black Live Matters supporters in particular called out the hypocrisy of someone dressed like him being able to reach the Senate chambers without being tear gassed, shot with rubber pellets or even restrained.

"How did this man wearing horns make it all the way to the senate floor? 1- he was white. 2- ... Nope that’s it. #WashingtonDC #whiteprivilege #DCRally #civilwar2021," asked one Twitter user, while another commented, "They got past 4 layers of security without a single shot fired. #whiteprivilege." It was obvious the man with horns was unharmed as he celebrated, arms in the air. "In summary, black children holding candy and toys have been shot and killed in their neighborhoods. A bare-chested white man in viking furs and horns with a bullet proof shield was just comfortably seated in the VP's seat in the chambers of our capitol. I. am. disgusted," said one Black Lives Matters supporter. 

Others were wondering why the National Guard hadn't been called earlier since everyone had expected violence by far-right elements in protest rallies supporting Trump's claims of 'election fraud'. One user remarked, "Invoking the 25th Amd is something @VP & Cabinet will need to do if @POTUS doesn't deploy National Guard to re-take the Capitol immediately. Shots have reportedly been fired inside. A shirtless man wearing Viking horns is at the Senate podium screaming. What ELSE needs to happen?", while another said, "'World superpower' but these people can breach the capitol building". Another user joked, "Maybe if we reach across the aisle, the shirtless man storming the Capitol wearing Viking horns and American flag war paint will see reason" about trying to find common ground with Trump supporters who had stormed the Capitol.

Others had more psychological insights into why some of Trump's supporters who are white supremacists seem to favor Viking paraphernalia. "I’m currently writing about hypermasculinity and Viking Medievalisms in white supremacy... the horns, valknut, and the ‘tree of life’ (Yggdrasil) on this guy underline this terrifyingly perfectly," said a user, whose profile identifies her as a "queer Viking religious historian".  

Angeli has been caught on camera before performing ritualistic protests in his signature fur and horns to support Trump in Arizona as well. BrieAnna J. Frank, a local Arizona reporter had posted a video of him after being harrassed for wearing a mask. 

There has been no news in particular about if Angeli was arrested for his antics in the Capitol and for leading the men waving Confederate flags into the Senate chambers.