JON SCHAFFER talks about being pardoned by TRUMP: “I'll always be grateful”
25-08-2025
ICED EARTH founder and guitarist Jon Schaffer recently sat down with Marc J. Victor and Andy Marcantel of Attorneys On Retainer to tell his side of the story regarding his involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, and provide a client testimonial for the Attorneys For Freedom law firm. You can watch the entire 75-minute chat below.
Speaking about his political activism prior to the events of January 6, 2021, Jon said: “I’m very pro founding principle America, and we’ve obviously drifted pretty far from that. So that’s bothered me for a long time, for whatever reason. It probably has a lot to do with my father and studying. And I just love the story of the founding of this country. As imperfect as we are, it’s the best. And we can be better — we can definitely be better than what we are now.
“I don’t like to get into the left-right part of this, ’cause that’s not where my passion is,” Jon explained. “It’s pro freedom. And I want our country and the world to get back to that, and that’s what I’ve tried to express. And a lot of people have put me in a box of being a right-wing extremist and this kind of stuff. And I don’t consider freedom to be extreme.”
During Schaffer‘s detention hearing in the U.S. District Court in July 2021, his lawyer, the aforementioned Marc J. Victor, told a federal judge that the guitarist had gone through “two months of hell” after he was detained, with other inmates allegedly targeting Jon with death threats and allegedly assaulting him with human excrement while he was behind bars.
“It was intense,” Jon told Attorneys On Retainer. “I mean, it was definitely intense. I was in general population for a couple days, but because I was all over the news, they moved me into solitary.
“I’ve been through a lot of intense things in my life, lived hardcore, being a teenager splitting from home, starting a heavy metal band and doing what you’ve gotta do to make that happen was intense. But dude, nothing compared to J6,” Schaffer continued. “So it was a crucible. And I’m thankful for it. I feel blessed in so many ways because you find out who really loves you, who are the parasites, who are the ones that really love you. And I’m blessed, man, ’cause there were a lot of people that stood beside me, even if they didn’t publicly. And I get that, but that doesn’t matter… It was a blessing, the entire thing was, because it got me… I stepped off the hamster wheel of the music business and was able to look at my life and reflect, and for that, as brutal as it was, that time of self-reflection, which is all you can do… I mean, it took probably three weeks for me to be able to get a Bible. We weren’t allowed to go to the library. They denied us access to the law library. There was literally nothing. And it’s been an incredible journey, and it’s life-changing in all of the good ways. And that’s what I can say about it.”
Reflecting on his success as the leader of what was considered to be one of the premier American power metal bands of the late 1990 and early 2000s, Jon said: “I’ve never been one to buy in to the rock star lifestyle anyway. I don’t need the hero worship, I don’t desire it, but I am a songwriter. That was my driving force. That was the thing that made me climb through all of the mountains of shit that I did for decades. It’s because of that. I had these ideas, heart and soul, totally in, and to be able to make that happen in a production and to see the final result was very satisfying. That was the most satisfying part of my career. All the rest of it was… I actually didn’t like it. I didn’t like the business. I don’t like dealing with the media. I don’t like those things. I don’t like the drama. I don’t like the narcissism. I don’t like all of that part of it. It’s too much. It’s very ego driven, and actually it’s a very superficial kind of lifestyle. The songwriting and the song craft is not, and the passion and love of playing, it’s not, but when you get into the business professionally, it changes, and you get a little bit jaded. At least I did. And it was an awesome career, and it was an awesome life. And I got to experience many amazing things and travel all over the world and meet some incredible people and visit all these different cultures. And it was awesome. And maybe the songwriting thing will come back, but at this particular point in my life, without the desire to write songs, that spark isn’t there, then I don’t wanna deal with all the rest of it. The only reason that I endured all of it was because of the song craft.”
In an interview earlier this year with Riffs From The Couch, ICED EARTH‘s founding guitarist Jon Schaffer spoke about his newfound faith after being sentenced for his involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Asked what role his relationship with Jesus Christ played in helping him to get through his ordeal and what impact those circumstances had on his relationship with Christ, Jon said: “Well, I would say that as brutal as it’s been in the big picture, it’s been the biggest gift of my life to go through this, not only for the cause, but for the fact that it is what led me to Christ.
“My life’s journey has been incredible — I mean, you can’t make this stuff up — and so it’s, like, it took that to break my stubborn… I was very stubborn, very, very hardheaded and very driven,” Jon explained. “But I realized that all the things that I’d been writing about (in my songs) and the sort of the warnings and stuff through the catalog and various projects, and that I feel like God was working through me and I didn’t even know it. And so when I was locked up in solitary, the only book that I could get was a Bible. And even that request took about three weeks to get it. And I started reading and… ‘Cause I was a Christian when I was a kid. Then I went to a religious school and things changed for me after that experience. And I’ll get into more of that in my testimony. But if it wasn’t for this, I am certain that I was on a path to destruction and that it took this and this time, these years of solitude, to understand and learn, and I’m still learning. I have a lot to learn. I think there’s a lot to the Bible. But I look at the Bible as a… We’re in a fallen state, and the Bible is like the operator’s manual to help you not just live, but thrive in the fallen state. And Jesus is the only way — that is absolutely clear to me now. And this has come in various steps of my…”
Schaffer added: “I’ve always been awake to corruption and held very strong views against government corruption and what’s happening and this level, but when you start to understand it from a biblical standpoint, then it gets real and that’s when the dots start connecting. And I just feel like — without getting too deep in the weeds about everything that happened — if it wasn’t for what happened, I would not have been saved and called by Christ. And I feel like this is the beginning of a new chapter. I don’t know what that looks like, and that’s okay, ’cause he’s in the driver’s seat.”
Asked if he had any other message for people who might be watching the interview, Jon said: “I think we’re in an unprecedented period of time for humanity, and I just strongly encourage you to look at Jesus’s teachings, what he stood for, what he died for, what he rose for, and realize that regardless of how horrible things may appear, there is a way out and it will bring you a sense of peace that you cannot possibly imagine. When you’re in a fallen state, you have no clue, but when you see that pathway and when it’s in you, it brings a level of calm and strength that it’s just hard to put into words until it happens.”
Last October Jon Schaffer released his first statement since being sentenced to three years of probation and 120 hours of community service in connection with his involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. He will also have to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $200 financial assessment.
Jon issued the following statement via his attorneys Marc J. Victor and A ndrew Marcantel of the Attorneys For Freedom Law Firm: “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.
“When the global pandemic came upon us, and chaos ensued all around the US in 2020, I was very concerned about what seemed to be a collapse of our country and the rule of law. When the 2020 election took place and I saw many public officials and media outlets reporting that the election was stolen, my concern deepened. This led to my decision to go to D.C. and have my voice heard. I’m not excusing my impulsive behavior. I was wrong, and I take ownership of my actions. I own the fact that I made a huge mistake, and I wish I never would have gone there. In fact, the consequences have been devastating on my life, family, friends, business, colleagues and business partners.
“I knew immediately that I had let my emotions get the best of me and made a terrible mistake. I drove home to Indiana the following morning on Thursday, January 7th, 2021. On the 8th I found my attorneys, and at my request they immediately reached out to the authorities. I willingly surrendered and cooperated with authorities. Initially, I was charged with multiple serious federal felony offenses and feared I may spend the rest of my life in prison. I spent several months in custody following my self-surrender. I was placed in solitary confinement with horrendous conditions, which was an extremely traumatic experience. I became the first person of the hundreds of co-defendants to enter a guilty plea, and have now been sentenced to probation.
“Until now, I have resisted the strong urge to issue a public statement due to my ongoing cooperation and the wishes of federal authorities. This extended period of silence has added additional challenges to my life as a public person. Since the beginning, I wanted to express my remorse for my actions and address the legitimate concerns of my fans worldwide. I watched as one media outlet after the next dragged my reputation through the mud and condemned me for not making any statement. However, I tried to be as productive as possible in lieu of my very damaged reputation and career.
“This whole situation has been extremely difficult. However, I know that I have become a better man because of it. I used to stay so busy that I didn’t have much time for self-reflection. In the last three and a half years that’s mostly what I’ve done. I have become a member of a wonderful church and improved myself spiritually, mentally, and physically. This personal revival has inspired me to continue writing and recording music. I’m certain there will be a very positive outlook in my future artistic creations.
“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.
“Sincerely, Jon Schaffer“.
“It says a lot about who you are in how quickly you came forward to accept responsibility,” U.S. District judge Amit Mehta told Schaffer during today’s sentencing hearing.
Schaffer apologized to his fans and said he deeply regrets the “pain and embarrassment” his actions have caused. “I’m sorry I let you down and I will work hard to rebuild your trust. You have my word: I will not let you down,” Schaffer told the judge.
Schaffer‘s attorney Marc Victor told the judge the musician believed the 2020 election was fraudulent and that the country was “on the verge of a takeover” when he entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“He was wrong but that’s what he believed,” Victor said. “He was misled by people in the executive branch.”
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