This signals that federal prosecutors see him as a valuable cooperator as they continue to investigate militia groups and other extremists involved in the insurrection on 6 January as Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden’s electoral win.
Schaffer, a supporter of Donald Trump, was accused of storming the Capitol and spraying police officers with bear spray. He pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors in federal court in Washington to two counts: obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering and remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous or deadly weapon.
An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney for Schaffer.
Jon Schaffer Pleads Guilty to Two Charges in Capitol Riot z94.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from z94.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Founding member of Oath Keepers group strikes plea deal with prosecutors over his role in Capitol riot - and could now flip on fellow far-right protesters
Jon Ryan Schaffer, 53, struck a plea deal with prosecutors Friday over the January 6 riot at the US Capitol
He is the first of the 410 people charged in the attack to plead guilty
As part of his plea deal, Schaffer had pledged to cooperate with authorities, meaning he will likely flip on fellow members of the far-right
Schaffer was facing up to 40 years behind bars; a judge had recommended he now serve between three and four years
Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer has entered a guilty plea on two of the charges against him related to the Capitol building riot earlier this year as part of a plea deal.
According to the Washington Post, the musician is the first to agree to a plea deal in the domestic terrorism investigation that saw over 400 people charged for their roles in the invasion of the Capitol Building back on Jan. 6.
The two charges he pled guilty to were obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon.