Iced Earth's Jon Schaffer gives first interview since arrest for 2021 Capitol insurrection (2025)

Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer has given his first interview since being arrested for his role in the 2021 US Capitol riot.

Schaffer was interviewed by the church-affiliated podcast “It Is Later Than You Think” in a video titled “Jon Schaffer – Finally Free.” In the nearly two-and-a-half-hour conversation, Schaffer opened up about his involvement in the insurrection, his newfound Christian faith, and the possibility of returning to music as a means to “glorify God.”

Schaffer initially faced numerous charges and was arrested and detained for three months after he was spotted on security camera footage storming an entrance to the Capitol building on January 6th, 2021. Authorities had connected him to the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers, a fact disputed by the Oath Keepers themselves, and Schaffer reportedly assisted law enforcement in their investigation.

After his sentencing, Schaffer released a statement expressing regret for his action on the day of riot, and in his first interview since, he reflected upon his decision to join the protests that eventually led to the January 6th riot (as transcribed by The PRP):

“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. 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.”

Schaffer then gave his recollections of the riot and storming of the Capitol itself, describing a scene of “pandemonium” and that he “just went kind of in a straight line,” following a flow of insurrectionists into the building. Schaffer attempted to describe himself as simply being caught up in the chaos and that he was surprised by the violence unfolding:

“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.”

The guitarist also said he believed that he and the rest of the J6ers, as they’re called, were treated unfairly, despite them all receiving a pardon, including the ones who committed violent crimes against Capitol police officers:

“I think the J6ers, besides our president, have gone through possibly the worst political persecution, probably the worst political persecution in the history of the country. And the damage that’s done, some of it’s never gonna be repaired. And it doesn’t matter if we win a lawsuit against the federal government for all the abuses of our rights. I mean, that’s money, man. That’s not gonna get back. You’re not gonna get your reputation back. Some people died, some people killed themselves, man, because of the pressure… It is just horrible what went on.”

Since the riot, Schaffer said he has turned to Christianity, inspired by the faith of others on his cellblock during his brief jail stint, and he views his baptism as a rebirth of sorts. The Iced Earth founder even teased a return to music to reflect his newfound faith:

“There’s a few releases that I’ve got up my sleeve that we’re gonna be working on. In terms of new material, I’m gonna give that a little bit of time. I need to know that there’s clear artistic direction and not something that’s manufactured by me. … And so whatever I would do going forward, I only wanna do something that’s gonna be great. I don’t want anything to be forced. And I want it to glorify God. And I think there’s just so much, from a creative standpoint… There’s actually been some biblical stuff throughout my catalog anyway, but from the eyes of a Christian now, like, man, there’s so much inspiration there that hopefully would have a good effect on people. So I hope that comes back to me. I hope that it’s, like, ‘Okay, it’s time. Activate.’ But I don’t know.”

You can watch the full interview with Schaffer below.