Iced Earth‘s founding guitarist, Jon Schaffer, has given his first interview since being sentenced to three years of probation and 120 hours of community service for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. In addition to these penalties, he was ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $200 financial assessment. Schaffer was later among approximately 1,500 individuals accused of crimes related to the riot who received a pardon from President Donald Trump.
Speaking on the It Is Later Than You Think podcast, hosted by Cornerstone Church, a non-denominational church in Trafalgar, Indiana, Schaffer discussed the events that led to his participation in the January 6 incident. Explanation of the interview says “This interview covers Jon‘s origin story all the way through his presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. Jon tells us what really happened on January 6th in Washington DC, about his time in solitary confinement, and what happened to him during this time.”
You can watch entire interview down below.
He said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “In the famous interview that I did [at a November 2020 Donald Trump rally in Washington, D.C.] that they showed everywhere, I said, this isn’t about President Trump. I mean, I believe that he’s a good man who loves his country. But the American people are worked up because we’re sick of the tyranny. And he happens to be the figurehead against that. But for me, I would’ve been just as pissed off if they stole the election from the Democrats, because that means that’s the end of our republic, which actually has been hijacked for a very long time… I’m just anti-tyranny. I want people to be free. I want people to be able to be free to speak their minds, to worship, to live, to prosper. That’s what we’ve been told our whole lives that’s what our country stands for. We realize how much we’ve been lied to, but the fact is that’s what it was founded upon. And they have demonized everything about our history to the point that if we don’t bring common sense back into this discussion, it will be unrecognizable.
“Now I realize my behavior wasn’t the greatest behavior and wasn’t the smartest thing that I ever did, but it was entrapment — one hundred percent,” Schaffer continued. “I mean, there’s no doubt. The truth is gonna come out about this. The bad thing is I know better. But I let my emotions get a whole handle on me, and I think there was a force at work there, which I can’t really put into words.”
Remembering events from January 6, 2021, Jon told: “It took me an hour to get to the Capitol because trying to walk quickly through masses of people like that was not an easy thing to do… It was only a mile, but, which normally I could knock that out pretty quick. But it was just packed. There were people all around you and moving at different paces and some very unfit people moving at really slow paces — I’d say a lot of those. But it was already chaos when I got there. And I just went kind of in a straight line.”
Seemingly implying that those present at the Capitol were simply protesting an election they believed to be fraudulent and that police officers allowed them inside, Schaffer went on to say: “It was sort of like an energy flow going that way, but it was obviously a lot of chaos already going on. From what I heard, people started before Trump was even done speaking, heading over there, stirring up trouble. And so I don’t know how many of those people would be agent provocateurs… But I was going in and went up the stairs… I didn’t see any entrances being breached. I actually didn’t see any of that. So I don’t know where that took place. I just saw the same videos that other people have. But I was going up the stairs and I felt what sounded like concussion grenades going off. It was loud. It sounded like it was within the building. And then tear gas canisters were blowing up over the top of us and these girls were coming down the stairs. They were probably 50 feet apart, crying. They’re destroying stuff up there. That’s not what this is about. So I’m, like, getting more charged up, like, ‘What’s going on?’ I didn’t know what was going on. I did not expect that patriots were setting off flash bangs or concussion grenades or whatever I was hearing. It doesn’t make sense because that’s not what the movement’s about. It’s not a violent movement. You could see that. It’s a very family-oriented movement. I would say that most of the people are just freedom loving, probably a lot of Christians and a lot of of good-hearted Americans… And so destroying property, that’s not what we do. That’s not our thing. So it became more and more alarming as I was getting higher up the stairs. And there were people on the scaffolds and a lot of stuff was being said and yelled and people were yelling and I saw guys coming down that had been sprayed, which is kind of a weird thing to see when you see it for the first time, because it takes a second for you realize, and then, of course, I found out. [Laughs] But they can’t see. But they look normal when you’re looking at ’em. But then you see that they can’t see ’cause they’ve been tear gased or pepper sprayed or whatever, chemical irritant. And so I just went up. I don’t even know if I had a model of the Capitol, if I could tell you where I was. But there were scaffolds right next to the stairway that was going up and there was a deck up there.. But it looks like it would be a place that maybe they do photographs or something. The doorway that I went in, there was no handles on the doorway. These were doors that I’m certain are very secure. I saw the police officer — he was masked up, but I still identified him; I recognized him — communicating. I saw him through the glass communicating. He was on the other side of the door. The door was not opened at this point, and he was looking up at the camera communicating, and I’m assuming that he was telling central command there to unlock those doors, because those doors, I can almost guarantee you, are magnetically sealed. I mean, it’s the Capitol of the United States. You’re not gonna be able to just take a hammer and break a window and reach around and grab… And there was no handles on the exterior anyway… I saw him do it… Or at least maybe they weren’t mechanically open, but whatever the mechanism is, the magnetic mechanism. And so he opens the door and a few people come out, and just as the door was closing, there was another group of people that yelled, ‘Hey, can we go in there?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, come on in.’ They let ’em in. Then the door closed and some period of time later another group came rushing out, and that’s when they said, ‘The cops are afraid. They’re beating an old man in there. Let’s go.’ And that’s what I got caught up in was that last thing. And it wasn’t too long after that I got in there that I saw the cop that was communicating to open the door just standing very calmly up in the stairs. ‘Cause like you go through the hall and there’s a ways down, there’s a staircase up here. And he’s, like, three or four steps up, just with his arms crossed, looking at everything. And then the police officers are backpedaling because we’re coming in. And then I caught off to the side — which, hell, at this point could be crisis actors for all I know. I don’t know. It was just pandemonium. I start yelling at ’em. The police, when it looked like to me like an old biker vet was getting hit with a baton by the one that was on the far end on the right, and I started yelling at him and yelling about them not keeping their oaths and ‘Congress is full of criminals.’ ‘What are you doing?’ Whatever. Not nice things, I’m sure, I was saying. But then I got sprayed.”
Schaffer continued by asserting that January 6 was merely a day of protest rather than an actual insurrection, saying:
“I mean, you’re talking about the most armed citizenry on the face of the planet. Somehow all those insurrectionists forgot their ARs [firearms] at home and their handguns and everything. It’s almost like that was never the intention.”
Schaffer then shared in detail how his experiences led him to embrace Christianity.
“The spiritual journey, I think I’ve kind of been on it for a while, but let’s say it came into focus by going through this,” he explained. “I did start reading the Bible, but I wasn’t really there… Like I’ve said, it was the beginning. Actually, it wasn’t the beginning, but this has been a slow process ’cause I’m a very bullheaded individual… That’s when my faith journey started. Being in solitary, lots of thinking, realizing the power and the evil that you’re up against and dealing with those people.”
When asked what led him to choose baptism and whether it was meant as a public declaration of a personal transformation, Schaffer responded:
“Just that. I know that it doesn’t guarantee salvation or something like that. That’s not the point. It was a more of that I had no choice when I was a baby, and this was a choice that I wanted to make. That’s all, really. There’s nothing more to it. And so I did. And then I moved back to Indiana and found you wonderful people [at Cornerstone Church] and realized how much we have in common. And I don’t know. It’s just amazing the way God works. And so I think the next level after me studying God’s word, going to Lakeview Church — I still watch Lakeview Church services on Sunday nights when I get home from work. Because I learn, and I like to learn. The next step was when I forgave my parents. That was a big step. It was a huge one. ‘Cause I didn’t realize it. It was just one of those things — the Holy Spirit told me, revealed it to me somehow. Like, ‘Dude, you can’t not forgive your parents.’ … And it’s still a journey. I think it’s always gonna be a struggle just because the human aspect of it.”
Schaffer voiced his sympathy for others who were charged and, in many cases, imprisoned for offenses related to the January 6, 2021, riot, which was an unsuccessful effort to halt the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden‘s 2020 election win.
Commenting on Trump‘s decision in January to pardon nearly all individuals criminally charged for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including Schaffer himself, as a gesture of solidarity with his supporters who stormed the Capitol, Jon said: “The president kept his word. I think he’s the only politician in my lifetime that does what he says he is gonna do. Do I agree with him on every single thing? Nope. Will I agree with everybody on every single thing? Nope. But he’s a man of honor. That’s for sure.”
Last October, Schaffer released his first statement after being sentenced to three years of probation and 120 hours of community service for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
At the time, he wrote:
“To my family, friends, and fans worldwide:
“I profoundly regret my actions on January 6th, 2021. I haven’t been a perfect man, but for the majority of my life, I’ve been a very productive man, and have 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 from all over the world to look at the USA as a beacon of hope for all of humanity. Having traveled the world for over 30 years and having performed in approximately 100 countries, it was always a great feeling and relief when the airplane would safely land at home on US soil.”
“To my fans who have continued to support me throughout this deeply embarrassing ordeal, I want to apologize for letting you down and thank you for keeping me going. To those fans who I have lost due to 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 to use my art to unite people, and never to divide.”
Although Schaffer was initially charged with six offenses, including using bear spray on police, he pleaded guilty to two: obstructing an official congressional proceeding and trespassing on restricted Capitol grounds while armed.
As part of his plea deal, he agreed to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify in related cases. In exchange, the Justice Department advocated for leniency in his sentencing and offered to sponsor him for the witness protection program.
After his arrest, the Indiana chapter of the Oath Keepers denied he was a member, while the national organization remained silent on his affiliation.
Schaffer’s involvement in the riot led to professional fallout. His Iced Earth bandmates distanced themselves, with singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton resigning. Blind Guardian frontman Hansi Kürsch also left Demons & Wizards, his long-running project with Schaffer. His record label, Century Media, appeared to sever ties as well—by mid-January 2021, Iced Earth and Demons & Wizards were no longer listed on its artist roster.
