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It’s been nine days since Donald Trump left office, and I’m sure I’m not the only one enjoying the peace and quiet.

No unhinged press conferences, no late-night Twitter tirades, and no egging on of supporters to carry out acts of violence against American democracy.

Not that Trump needs to say much more, because the seeds have been sown, and there are even some South Africans getting in on the action.

Some of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6 have had a real change of heart since law enforcement came calling, and that includes Jacob Chansley, who is perhaps best known as the QAnon Shaman.

Chansley and his legal team have tried hard to downplay his actions since his arrest (as have many others involved in the insurrection), and he’s not above throwing Trump under the bus.

Here’s The Independent:

[Chansley] is now offering to testify against the president, saying he feels betrayed.

Albert Watkins, the lawyer of the man popularly known as the “QAnon Shaman”,  has said his client will testify at Mr Trump’s upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate, which is scheduled to begin in the second week of February.

Mr Watkins emphasised that his client was “horrendously smitten” by Donald Trump but now feels let down after the former president’s refusal to grant pardons to him and others involved in the 6 January riots.

“He felt like he was betrayed by the president,” he said.

Watkins may be jumping the gun slightly, given that he hasn’t actually spoken to any member in the Senate since announcing that Chansley was willing to testify.

If he did, reports AP, his words could actually be important:

The words of Trump supporters who are accused of participating in the riot may end up being used against him in the impeachment trial. Chansley and at least four others people who are facing federal charges stemming from the riot have suggested they were taking orders from Trump…

[Chansley] told investigators he came to the Capitol “at the request of the president that all ‘patriots’ come to D.C. on January 6,” according to court records.

Chansley was a regular attendee at Trump’s rallies, and often spoke out in support of the 45th president.

I guess Chansley may also have grown tired of QAnon and the constant ‘Trust the Plan’ nonsense that followers roll out every time their promises of mass arrests fail to materialise.

There is no plan, you have been duped, and you need to seek help. Sadly, QAnon followers have now well and truly infiltrated the Republican party, with little pushback from the GOP.

The chances of Trump being impeached in the Senate hearing are virtually zero, with so many Republican senators still fearing the former president’s wrath, even though he now operates from Mar-a-Lago, rather than the Oval Office.

Facing charges of civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, demonstrating in a Capitol building, and other counts, Chansley has yet to enter a plea.

He was pretty full of beans when he entered the Capitol brandishing a US flag attached to a wooden pole topped with a spear, but as soon as he was taken into custody, he did an about-turn.

For example, this from January 11:

Jacob Chansley, AKA Jake Angeli, Arizona man makes first court appearance in for charges related to storming the U.S. Capitol. His mom says he hasn’t eaten since Friday because the detention facility won’t feed him all organic food. @abc15 pic.twitter.com/doTLFal4At

— Melissa Blasius (@MelissaBlasius) January 11, 2021

His mom, Martha Chansley, said at the time that he “gets very sick if he doesn’t eat organic food – literally will get physically sick“.

If he testifies against Trump in the Senate impeachment trial, as he has offered to do, Chansley will be singing for his organic supper.

[sources:independent&ap]