Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer is being extradited to Washington, D.C.. Schaffer was infamously photographed storming the U.S. Capitol building on January 6th, in an "Oath Keepers" hat.
Schaffer was arrested in Hamilton County, charged for his role in the Capitol insurrection. Schaffer turned himself into authorities on January 17th and is currently in Marion County Jail. WISH-TV reports U.S. government officials are pushing not to grant Schaffer bail.
With news outlets reporting members of Oath Keepers were involved in the planning of the raid, a new statement from Indiana Oath Keepers has distanced themselves from the actions in D.C., and Schaffer's actions specifically, without naming him explicilty.
“Indiana Oath Keepers does not and has never sponsored, planned or funded any activities that involve riots, violence or unlawful actions. No IOK members were sent to Washington DC on January 6th nor did IOK leadership ask for volunteers to travel to Washington DC. IOK encourages the rule of law by supporting law enforcement and emergency response personnel in the lawful exercise of their duties. The individual arrested in Columbus, Indiana and was wearing an Oath Keepers (not Indiana Oath Keepers) hat in the US Capitol building on January 6th is NOT a member of Indiana Oath Keepers.”
The FBI has charged him with six different charges, one of which accuses him of spraying Capitol police with bear spray, a more potent form of pepper spray. Schaffer is not guaranteed bail, and must prove that he is not a threat to himself or the public to be granted so. Schaffer is dealing with the following charges:
- Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority
- Disrupting the Orderly Conduct of Government Business
- Knowingly Engaging in an Act of Physical Violence Against any Person or Property in any Restricted Building or Grounds
- Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
- Engaging in an Act of Physical Violence in a Capitol Building
- Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
A report from The New York Times today described the group as a "far-right militia-style organization founded by military and law enforcement veterans that professes to believe that a shadowy globalist cabal is plotting to take away Americans’ rights."
Schaffer's arrest documents can be seen below.
