Jacob Chansley, widely recognized as the Qanon Shaman, has initiated a lawsuit in Arizona seeking $40 trillion in damages, naming Donald Trump along with a lengthy list of other defendants. The 26-page document is formatted as a single continuous paragraph and resembles a manifesto more than a conventional lawsuit.
In his complaint, he asserts that he is the legitimate leader of a new government and argues that the nation should be governed solely by the original Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Among the defendants he enumerates are Trump, the Federal Reserve, the NSA, the IMF, the World Bank, Israel, Elon Musk’s X Corp, T-Mobile, DARPA, and Warner Bros.
The lawsuit categorizes the damages into three segments: $38 trillion aimed at eliminating government debt, $1 trillion designated for national reconstruction, and $1 trillion for his own suffering. He states that his claim arises from “personal, emotional, mental, and spiritual torture and years’ worth of anguish.”
Additionally, he proposed that the Federal Reserve mint a single gold coin valued at $40 trillion as his inaugural act as “the first president of the ‘New Constitutional Republic of the United States.’” Journalists observed that the exhibits referenced in the filing were linked to an online folder that was inaccessible.
In the complaint, he accuses a select group of individuals of infringing upon constitutional rights and refers to himself as the genuine commander in chief. He alleges that the NSA deceived him online by impersonating actress Michelle Rodriguez and claims that Trump personally contacted him via email following the Capitol riot, although these assertions are presented as his claims rather than verified facts.
He did not reply to inquiries directed to his listed contacts, and none of the defendants provided immediate comments. Journalists who reviewed the documents indicated that the lawsuit intertwines state and federal matters and may be transferred to federal court, but described the claims as “wildly specious.”
Chansley gained notoriety on January 6 when he entered the Senate chamber without a shirt, adorned with horns, and carrying a flag affixed to a spear. Subsequently, he was sentenced to 41 months in prison for obstructing an official proceeding.
Since that time, he attempted to run for Congress in Arizona as a Libertarian but was unsuccessful in securing a place on the ballot. He subsequently stated that he would distance himself from the Qanon label while remaining engaged in public discussions.
His perspective on Trump has fluctuated multiple times. Trump granted him a pardon in 2025, and he initially expressed joy through social media posts that proclaimed, “I GOT A PARDON BABY!” and “THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP!!! NOW I AM GONNA BUY SOME MOTHA FU*KIN GUNS!!!” However, just a few months later, he reversed his stance and labeled Trump a fraud in furious online messages.
In July, he expressed his frustration by writing, “Fk this stupid piece of st… What a fraud…” and he insisted on receiving payment for interviews, informing one media outlet, “I charge $555 per hour. Minimum of 1 hour.” His resentment stemmed from Trump’s refusal to disclose Epstein files, a matter that created discord even among some of Trump’s supporters.
The new filing reiterates themes he has voiced for years, including criticisms of globalists, allegations of government surveillance, and calls for a new system grounded solely in the Bill of Rights. In this document, he asserted that radio stations and DJs are part of the intelligence community, that the NSA monitored him while he composed a second Declaration of Independence, and that the government unlawfully seized over $100,000 in cryptocurrency from him.
The progression of the case hinges on whether the defendants are served and if the court accepts jurisdiction. Currently, there are no responses recorded, and the only documentation available is the complaint itself, along with what journalists have observed.
The filing indicates that Chansley aims to transition his narrative from that of a criminal defendant to a civil plaintiff, portraying himself as a champion of constitutional rights, even if the court may dismiss the case at an early stage.
