Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer was sentenced by a U.S. court to three years of probation and 120 hours of community service for his involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, which occurred on January 6, 2021.
Schaffer will also have to pay US$1,000 in restitution and a financial assessment of US$200. At the current exchange rate, this amounts to approximately R$6,849.
According to the Blabbermouth , the document issued by the United States District Court details Jon's participation in the anti-democratic act, as well as addressing his involvement with the far-right militia, Oath Keepers . In May 2023, the group's founder, Stewart Rhodes , was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy.
Jon Schaffer's stance
Following the announcement of the sentence, the guitarist sent an open letter to the press through his legal representatives:
“To my family, friends, and fans around the world: I deeply regret my actions on January 6, 2021. I was not a perfect man, but for most of my life I was a very productive man and tried to live my life with integrity and a disciplined work ethic.”
“I deeply love our country and the founding principles that have inspired people around the world to look to the U.S. as a beacon of hope for all humanity. Having traveled the world for over 30 years and performed in approximately 100 countries, it was always a great feeling of relief when the plane landed safely back home on American soil.”
“When the global pandemic hit us, and chaos ensued across the U.S. in 2020, I became very concerned about what appeared to be a collapse of our country and the rule of law. When the 2020 election happened and I saw many public officials and media outlets reporting that the election was stolen, my concern increased. This led to my decision to go to DC and have my voice heard,” he continues.
“I am not excusing my impulsive behavior. I was wrong and I take responsibility for my actions. I acknowledge that I made a huge mistake and I wish I had never gone there. In fact, the consequences were devastating for my life, family, friends, business, colleagues, and business partners. I knew immediately that I had let my emotions get the better of me and made a terrible mistake. I drove home to Indiana the following morning, Thursday, January 7, 2021.”
“On the 8th, I met with my lawyers and, at my request, they immediately contacted the authorities. I surrendered voluntarily and cooperated with the authorities. Initially, I was charged with several serious federal crimes and feared spending the rest of my life in prison. I spent several months in custody after my surrender. I was placed in solitary confinement under horrendous conditions, which was an extremely traumatic experience. I became the first person among hundreds of co-defendants to plead guilty and have now been sentenced to probation,” he added.
“Until now, I have resisted the strong urge to issue a public statement due to my continued cooperation and the wishes of federal authorities. This long period of silence has added further challenges to my life as a public figure. From the outset, I wanted to express my remorse for my actions and address the legitimate concerns of my fans worldwide. I watched as one media outlet after another dragged my reputation through the mud and condemned me for not making any statement. However, I tried to be as productive as possible in exchange for my badly damaged reputation and career.”
“This whole situation has been extremely difficult. However, I know I’ve become a better man because of it. I used to be so busy that I didn’t have much time for self-reflection. For the last three and a half years, that’s basically what I’ve done. I’ve become a member of a wonderful church and have improved spiritually, mentally, and physically. This personal revival has inspired me to continue writing and recording music. I’m sure there will be a very positive outlook in my future artistic creations.”
He concludes with: “To my fans who continued to support me during this deeply embarrassing ordeal, I want to apologize for letting you down and thank you for standing by me. To the fans I lost because of my decisions that day, I certainly understand. I humbly ask everyone to allow me to demonstrate through my actions how far I’ve come. I wish to continue using my art to unite people, and never to divide them.”
“Sincerely, Jon Schaffer.”
Remember the invasion?
The U.S. Capitol invasion occurred on January 6, 2021, when supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. This attack took place while Congress was certifying Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. The goal of the protesters, incited by speeches alleging electoral fraud, was to disrupt the certification process.
The act resulted in the destruction of part of the building and the temporary suspension of the legislative session. There were clashes between invaders and security forces, resulting in several arrests and, tragically, five deaths. This event generated significant repercussions in the United States, including federal investigations, arrests of those involved, and a second impeachment process against Trump, accused of inciting insurrection.
READ ALSO: Iced Earth vocalist and bassist resign 1 month after Jon Schaffer's invasion of the US Capitol.