Who is Martha Chansley? 'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli's mom claims he did nothing 'wrong', Internet says jail her
Martha Chansley, the mother of the man dubbed as the QAnon Shaman from the US Capitol rights on January 6, has defended her son's actions in an interview on national television. According to Chansley, her son Jacob Chansley also known as Jake Angeli did not do anything 'wrong' by charging with a massive crowd into the US Capitol while the House met to ratify President Joe Biden's win in the November 2020 US presidential election.
Speaking to the CBS program 60 Minutes' Laurie Segall, Martha made her personal opinion on her son's actions known. The interview is set to be aired on Sunday, March 7 and sees the mother grow defensive when asked whether her 33-year-old son was in the wrong for storming the Capitol along with a violent mob.
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In a two and a half minute long preview of the original interview shared by Segall through her Twitter account, Martha can be seen defending her son, smiling throughout. Segall captioned the clip ""He walked through open doors." - Martha Chansley, defends the actions of her son -- aka the QAnon Shaman -- during the Capitol siege. This exchange was one of the most telling from the piece. Would watch the full clip.."
In the video, when Segall asks Martha, "Do you see anything wrong with what your son did?", Martha shoots back "What do you mean by 'wrong?" she quickly defends her son's actions saying "He didn't -- he went through open doors! He was escorted into the Senate! So I don't know what's wrong with that!"
"He walked through open doors." - Martha Chansley, defends the actions of her son -- aka the QAnon Shaman -- during the Capitol siege. This exchange was one of the most telling from the piece. Would watch the full clip. pic.twitter.com/Ie1YJ0YXPf
— Laurie Segall (@LaurieSegall) March 4, 2021
Segall reiterates "This was an attack on the US Capitol, and your son was a part of it, whether or not you say he was violent." She then asks "Do you see the gravity of it?" Martha promptly replies "Of course, of course. I feel the gravity of it because my son is [...] where he is right now, so," referring to Jacob's arrest and current detainment following the riots. She however insists "If he could take it back, he would. I know that he is sorry. But again, it all comes back to - he walked through open doors."
When Segall asks if "it look like the doors were just peacefully open to the public," Martha questions the usage of the word 'peacefully." She explains "The doors were open. They were letting people in." Segall points out the security at the Capitol was "overcome by a group of people, many of whom were armed." But Martha keeps insisting "Jacob wasn't a part of that."
Point out the glaring bias in her tone, Segall smiles while saying "I hear you say, 'My son was there, but he wasn't a part of the bad part of it." And Martha incredulously affirms that, saying "I think that's really important to understand that." Segall remarks again "Wasn't all of that bad? Wasn't any attack on the Capitol, any interruption of our democratic process - isn't all of that bad?"
This is where Martha disagrees, she insists "I don't think the process of being able to go and exercise your right to free speech and to stand up for what you believe is right." Segall again points out "It is not your right to interrupt the democratic process. It is not your right to breach the Capitol, to go where you're not legally allowed to be." And finally, Martha says "What I would say to that is, I don't think it's right that it (the presidential elections) was won fraudulently. I don't believe it was won fairly at all."
The video, which has since amassed over six thousand comments, retweets, and some nine thousand likes on the platform, saw massive outrage from users. "As a former grade school teacher and principal, I know this mother. I dread this mother and her child. The child will do whatever they want and if called on it, I'll have a screaming mother in my office immediately after," wrote a user.
Some were also agitated that CBS and Segall would even allow these sentiments to reach the impressionable public. "Laurie, all due respect for sitting through this. But shame on you and shame on CBS for allowing these dangerous traits to tell their side of the story. So irresponsible. And you wonder why people are angry with “journalists,"" wrote one user.
Let's be clear. Her son was armed. He was carrying a flag on a pole, with a spear on the end.
— Jody (@jodylynn_ri) March 4, 2021
During the Women's March in DC, we were not allowed to carry signs w/ sticks to hold and could not bring umbrellas. These people brought spears, bear spray, flag poles, bombs & guns. pic.twitter.com/RJe1I0Giha
Laurie, all due respect for sitting through this. But shame on you and shame on CBS for allowing these dangerous traits to tell their side of the story. So irresponsible. And you wonder why people are angry with “journalists.”
— Invitations, Ink Studio (@invinkstudio) March 4, 2021
As a former grade school teacher and principal, I know this mother. I dread this mother and her child. The child will do whatever they want and if called on it, I'll have a screaming mother in my office immediately after.
— One of 81 million (@dolfan650) March 4, 2021
She can’t even say the word jail, since that signifies what he did was illegal and there are consequences.
— Alaska998 (@seinerak) March 4, 2021
And there it is right at the end. He's supposedly sorry and would take it back if he could, but only because it was unsuccessful. If their actions somehow ended with Trump remaining in office, they would consider themselves heroes of democracy.
— James Boyle (@jamesboylejr) March 4, 2021
Others pointed out the bias in the mother's defense, citing photos of Jacob from the riots where he was clearly 'armed'. "Let's be clear. Her son was armed. He was carrying a flag on a pole, with a spear on the end. During the Women's March in DC, we were not allowed to carry signs w/ sticks to hold and could not bring umbrellas. These people brought spears, bear spray, flag poles, bombs & guns," shared a user.
Another pointed out how "She can’t even say the word jail, since that signifies what he did was illegal and there are consequences." Also commenting on how 'Sorry' the 'shaman' allegedly feels for his actions, a user wrote: "And there it is right at the end. He's supposedly sorry and would take it back if he could, but only because it was unsuccessful. If their actions somehow ended with Trump remaining in office, they would consider themselves heroes of democracy."
Another slammed the mother for defending her son even at this time: "I mean someone had already stabbed the guy and he was going to die anyway. My precious peepus popus Jacob just stabbed a guy who was already dying. He didn't kill him!" Throw her in jail for raising the idiot."
"I mean someone had already stabbed the guy and he was going to die anyway. My precious peepus popus Jacob just stabbed a guy who was already dying. He didn't kill him!" Throw her in jail for raising the idiot.
— Colleen 😷 (@ColleenHolt20) March 4, 2021