Call your first witness! 'QAnon Shaman' says he is willing to testify at Trump's impeachment trial that ex-president 'incited him to storm the Capitol'

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An Arizona man who took part in the insurrection at the US Capitol while sporting face paint, no shirt and a furry hat with horns has offered to testify at former President Donald Trump's upcoming impeachment trial, his lawyer has said.

Jacob Chansley - who calls himself the 'QAnon Shaman' and has long been a fixture at Trump rallies - and at least four other people who are facing federal charges stemming from the attack have suggested they were taking orders from Trump.

Lawyer Albert Watkins said he hasn't spoken to any member in the Senate since announcing his offer to have Chansley testify at Trump's trial, which is scheduled to begin the week of February 8. 

Watkins said it's important for senators to hear the voice of someone who was incited by Trump.

Trump is the first president to be twice impeached and the first to face a trial after leaving office. The charge this time is 'inciting violence against the government of the United States'. 

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Albert Watkins, the lawyer for Jacob Chansley, who took part in the insurrection at the US Capitol while sporting face paint, no shirt and a furry hat with horns is offering to have his client testify at former President Donald Trump's upcoming impeachment trial

Watkins said his client was previously 'horrendously smitten' by Trump but now feels let down after Trump's refusal to grant Chansley (pictured on January 6) and others who participated in the insurrection a pardon. 'He felt like he was betrayed by the president,' Watkins said

Trump is the first president to be twice impeached and the first to face a trial after leaving office. The charge this time is 'inciting violence against the government of the United States'

Watkins said his client was previously 'horrendously smitten' by Trump but now feels let down after Trump's refusal to grant Chansley and others who participated in the insurrection a pardon. 

'He felt like he was betrayed by the president,' Watkins said.

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 hasn't yet entered a plea to charges civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, demonstrating in a Capitol building and other counts. 

He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Washington.

In successfully seeking his detention until trial, prosecutors said Chansley went into the Capitol carrying a US flag attached to a wooden pole topped with a spear, ignored an officer's commands to leave, went into the Senate chamber and wrote a threatening note to then-Vice President Mike Pence.

Chansley and at least four other people who are facing federal charges stemming from the riot have suggested they were taking orders from Trump. Dustin Thompson (pictured), 36, is charged with stealing a coat rack during Capitol riots. He is pictured carrying the coat rack

Thompson could be seen clearly on surveillance footage entering the Capitol building 

Thompson (left) is pictured with his lawyer, Sam Shamansky, on January 25. Thompson is said to have 'believed the calculated, repetitive lies about how our democracy had been compromised and was being taken from them and they had to prevent that,' Shamansky said

As of Monday, at least 95 individuals have been charged in connection with the riot, according to DOJ records

Chansley told investigators he came to the Capitol 'at the request of the president that all "patriots" come to DC on January 6,' according to court records.

Chansley and at least four other people who are facing federal charges stemming from the riot have suggested they were taking orders from Trump.  

Dustin Byron Thompson, 36, from Columbus, Ohio, who is accused of entering the Capitol and stealing a coat rack from the Senate during the January 6 siege of the building, claims he was 'inspired to do so by Trump's lies about election fraud'.

Thompson was accompanied by his layer Sam Shamansky on Monday morning at the US District Courthouse in the Ohio state capital.  

'How else do you explain otherwise rational, law-abiding citizens traveling to DC and doing what they did?' Shamansky asked as he made the point to a federal judge in the hearing which saw his client released on own recognizance.  

In what could signal a defense strategy for many of the people ensnared after the Capitol riots, Thompson's attorney essentially is laying the blame at Trump's feet, saying his client was merely following the instructions of the former president. 

Also this week, Justin McAuliffe was arrested. Prosecutors said on Thursday that people who were in contact with McAuliffe, 39, on social media alerted authorities about his involvement in the riot. McAuliffe is pictured leaving the Central Islip Federal Courthouse on Thursday 

He appeared to be wearing a t-shirt with the word 'patriot' written on the front as he got into a vehicle

As of Monday, at least 95 individuals have been charged in connection with the riot, according to DOJ records.   

Thompson is charged with federal misdemeanor counts of knowingly entering any restricted buildings or grounds and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. 

He is charged with theft of government property which carry potential prison terms of up to one year and fines up to $100,000. 

Shamansky revealed to the Columbus Dispatch that his line of defense will be to outline how his client 'got brainwashed to the point they felt duty bound to follow the encouragement of their commander-in-chief during a highly charged political rally immediately preceding the invasion'.

Thompson is said to have 'believed the calculated, repetitive lies about how our democracy had been compromised and was being taken from them and they had to prevent that,' he said. 

'It was nothing less than a call to arms from the highest level of government.'

Also this week, the FBI arrested another New York City area man in the rampage at the Capitol.

Prosecutors said on Thursday that people who were in contact with Justin McAuliffe, 39, on social media alerted authorities about his involvement in the riot earlier this month. 

According to court papers, a photo showed the Long Island resident casually lounging in an unnamed lawmaker’s office. 

The papers also cite a Facebook message in which he claimed people were smoking marijuana in the office and that police didn’t try to clear them out right away.

McAuliffe made an initial court appearance Thursday afternoon on federal charges of disorderly conduct in a restricted area. 

His defense attorney declined comment on Thursday. 

Later Thursday evening, McAuliffe was photographed leaving the Central Islip Federal Courthouse following his initial appearance. He appeared to be wearing a t-shirt with the word 'patriot' written on the front as he got into a vehicle.