An Arizona court and the U.S. Marshal's Service have had to clarify widely reported claims that a Capitol riot suspect known as the "QAnon Shaman" was granted an organic diet following reports he had not eaten whilst in custody.
During his first court appearance on Monday, the defense attorney for Jake Angeli, 33, of Arizona, revealed that his client had not eaten since he was arrested the previous Saturday because of his strict diet.
It was first reported that public defender Gerald Williams told the judge that Angeli, real name Jacob Anthony Chansley, has a restrictive diet consisting solely of organic food, believed to be for religious or medical reasons.
The suspect's mother, Martha Chansley, later told ABC 15, that her son "literally will get physically sick," if he eats anything but organic food.
Judge Deborah Fine told the court the reports were "deeply concerning" and ordered Williams to find a way to accommodate Angeli's demands.
In a statement to Newsweek, the U.S. Marshal's Office in Arizona confirmed that if an inmate has dietary requirements related to health issues or religious purposes "every effort is made to observe those needs."
However, in a further update to Newsweek the U.S. Marshal's Office backtracked on the "widely reported misinformation" that Judge Fine ordered Angeli be given an organic diet.
According to a court order signed by Fine, there had been a "misunderstanding" regarding Angeli's dietary requirement.
The affidavit states that Williams was "unsure" whether the restrictive diet was due to medical or religious reasons. There was also no mention of the nature of the restrictive diet, nor is it common for courts to ask about the nature of any request, which could include Kosher or diabetic requirements, due to privacy concerns.
"The Court did not order any specific diet for Mr. Chansley. The Court trusts that the United States Marshal and Mr. Chansley's attorney have already or will communicate about the appropriate course of action regarding any legitimate dietary needs Mr. Chansley may have," Fine wrote.
Fine ordered that the court takes no additional action at this time.
Angeli, a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory, was one of the most prominent people seen inside Congress during the suspected insurrection attempt, due to his striking fur hat, horns and face paint.
He was originally charged with two misdemeanor offenses: knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
He now faces additional charges of civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and demonstrating in a Capitol building.
If convicted of the obstruction charge, Chansley could face up to 20 years in federal prison, reported ABC 15.
Angeli is scheduled for a detention hearing Friday, January 15, in Phoenix, Arizona.
