PHOENIX — Jacob Chansley, the spear-wielding rioter whose fur hat, naked chest and face paint made him one of the vital recognizable figures within the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, apparently aspires to turn into a congressman. .

On-line paperwork reveals the 35-year-old Chansley filed a press release of candidate curiosity on Thursday, indicating he needs to run as a Libertarian in subsequent yr’s election for Arizona’s eighth Congressional District seat.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, a 64-year-old Republican who has represented the district since 2018, introduced final month that she wouldn’t search re-election. Her time period formally ends in January 2025.

Chansley pleaded responsible to a felony cost of obstructing an official continuing in reference to the Capitol riot.

He was sentenced to 41 months in jail in November 2021 and served about 27 months earlier than being transferred to a house in Phoenix in March 2023. Chansley grew up within the larger Phoenix space.

Chansley is amongst greater than 700 folks sentenced in reference to federal crimes associated to the Capitol riot. Authorities mentioned Chansley was among the many first rioters to enter the Capitol and admitted to utilizing a bullhorn to fire up the mob.

Though he beforehand known as himself a “QAnon Shaman,” Chansley has since disavowed the QAnon motion.

He recognized himself as Jacob Angeli-Chansley on candidate assertion of curiosity paperwork filed with the Arizona Secretary of State’s workplace.

America Structure doesn’t prohibit felons from holding federal workplace. However Arizona legislation prohibits felons from voting till they full their sentence and regain their civil rights.

Emails despatched to Chansley and his attorneys looking for touch upon his political intentions weren’t instantly returned Sunday.