PHOENIX – His hairy, bathed headdress and bathing suit made Jake Angeli easily recognizable in the crowd that took over Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol.
The 33-year-old, also known as Jake Chansley, has been a fixture at recent pro-Trump rallies in Arizona. He is a conspiracy theorist of QAnon who is now a wanted man.
DC Metropolitan Police placed Angeli at the top of its list of “people of interest” for crimes related to the chaos of the United States Capitol. He is accused of illegal entry and there is a $ 1,000 reward for the information leading to his arrest.
When ABC15 researcher Melissa Blasius spoke to Angel’s mother at her Phoenix home on Thursday, she said she didn’t know where her son was, but added that “it’s okay.”
Martha Chansley did not apologize for her son’s actions.
“It takes a lot of courage to be patriotic, okay, and stand up for what you believe in,” Martha said. “Not everyone wants to be the initial person.”
Several former classmates tell ABC15 that Jake attended Moon Valley High School and sent him photos from the yearbook. His mother says he is a Navy veteran.
“She’s probably one of the kindest people I know,” Martha said. “Try to get people to hear the message. Wake up. Wake up. Do we still not live in the United States of America? “
Martha Chansley wondered if the police really wanted her son, why didn’t they arrest him when he was at the U.S. Capitol?