Jon Schaffer will remain in federal detention for his role in US Capitol riot

Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer will remain in federal detention for his role in the US Capitol riot after a decision from Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui.

Schaffer, whom Faruqui deemed a potential threat to the community, is currently being held without bail on six federal charges relating to the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

• READ MORE: Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer appears to charge at police during Capitol Riots in new footage

Schaffer was photographed and caught on video participating in the Capitol riots. He also gave an interview to the German newspaper Welt on the day of the riots, in which he said “a group of thugs and criminals hijacked this country a long time ago. Now they’re making their big move, and it’s not going to happen.”

In the images, he was seen wearing a hat that read “Oath Keepers lifetime member.”

Police attempt to retake Capitol from protesters https://t.co/bku3yGU7y0 pic.twitter.com/ZCWYbDccNp

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 6, 2021

The Oath Keepers are a far-right, anti-government group considered extremists by such organisations as the Anti-Defamation League.

According to WUSA9, Schaffer’s attorney, Marc Victor, disputed Schaffer’s arrest warrant, claiming he exercised bad judgement in his participation but wasn’t a threat to the community as he had no prior criminal record.

Former President Donald Trump has been impeached, but not convicted, for his role in the storming of the US Capitol. Five people died that day, including a Capitol Police officer.

A month after Schaffer’s arrest, Iced Earth members Stu Block and Luke Appleton announced their departure from the band. “In response to recent events and circumstances, I have notified Iced Earth’s management and Jon that I will be resigning as the Iced Earth bassist with immediate effect,” Appleton wrote in a Facebook post on 15 February.

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