Timeline of incidents involving QAnon#Austin Steinbart arrest

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}

File:QAnon.svg

Since the movement's emergence in 2017, adherents{{sp}}of the QAnon far-right conspiracy theory* {{cite journal |last1=Guglielmi |first1=Giorgia |title=The next-generation bots interfering with the US election |journal=Nature |date=October 28, 2020 |volume=587 |issue=7832 |page=21 |doi=10.1038/d41586-020-03034-5 |pmid=33116324 |bibcode=2020Natur.587...21G |doi-access=free }}

  • {{cite web |last=Neiwert |first=David |date=January 17, 2018 |title=Conspiracy meta-theory 'The Storm' pushes the 'alternative' envelope yet again |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/01/17/conspiracy-meta-theory-storm-pushes-alternative-envelope-yet-again |access-date=October 14, 2018 |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |language=en |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222090824/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/01/17/conspiracy-meta-theory-storm-pushes-alternative-envelope-yet-again |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Ben |last2=Zadrozny |first2=Brandy |author-link2=Brandy Zadrozny |date=August 10, 2018 |title=The far right is struggling to contain Qanon after giving it life |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/far-right-struggling-contain-qanon-after-giving-it-life-n899741 |website=NBC News |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206142455/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/far-right-struggling-contain-qanon-after-giving-it-life-n899741 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Eli |date=November 30, 2018 |title=Pence shares picture of himself meeting a SWAT officer with a QAnon conspiracy patch |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/12/01/pence-shares-picture-him-meeting-swat-officer-wearing-qanon-conspiracy-patch/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424083952/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/12/01/pence-shares-picture-him-meeting-swat-officer-wearing-qanon-conspiracy-patch/ |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite news |date=November 30, 2018 |title=South Florida Cop Wore "QAnon" Conspiracy Patch With Mike Pence |work=Miami New Times |first=Jerry |last=Iannelli |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/broward-south-florida-cop-wore-qanon-patch-with-mike-pence-10938571 |url-status=live |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108141808/https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/broward-south-florida-cop-wore-qanon-patch-with-mike-pence-10938571 }}
  • {{cite web |last=Moore |first=McKenna |date=August 1, 2018 |title=What You Need to Know About Far-Right Conspiracy QAnon |url=https://fortune.com/2018/08/01/qanon-conspiracy-trump-tampa-rally/ |website=Fortune |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217075706/https://fortune.com/2018/08/01/qanon-conspiracy-trump-tampa-rally/ |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite news |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=July 10, 2019 |title=Trump Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Right-Wing Social Media Trolls |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/10/business/trump-social-media-summit.html |access-date=July 17, 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211050808/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/10/business/trump-social-media-summit.html |url-status=live }} have been involved in a number of controversial events, some of them violent, resulting in the filing of criminal charges and one conviction for terrorism.

2018

=Tucson cement plant incident=

In May 2018, Michael Lewis Arthur Meyer livestreamed a Facebook video from the site of a Tucson cement plant, asserting, "This is a child sex trafficking camp that no one wants to talk about, that no one wants to do nothing about." The video was viewed 650,000 times over the ensuing week. Tucson police inspected the plant without finding evidence of criminal activity. Meyer then occupied a tower on the property for nine days, until reaching agreement with police to leave. He later returned to the tower in July, whereupon he was arrested for trespassing. Meyer referenced QAnon and the #WWG1WGA hashtag on his Facebook page.{{Cite news |date=August 7, 2018 |title=Two Arizona arrests have ties to QAnon conspiracy theory movement |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/08/07/qanon-ties-two-arizona-arrests-conspiracy-theory-trump/920336002/ |first=Richard |last=Ruelas |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018153556/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/08/07/qanon-ties-two-arizona-arrests-conspiracy-theory-trump/920336002/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Prendergast |first=Curt |title=No evidence to support child sex-trafficking claims at Tucson homeless camp, police say |work=Arizona Daily Star |url=https://tucson.com/news/local/no-evidence-to-support-child-sex-trafficking-claims-at-tucson/article_d464a498-6937-58ad-9fdf-2253ce4e2e2c.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605144700/http://tucson.com/news/local/no-evidence-to-support-child-sex-trafficking-claims-at-tucson/article_d464a498-6937-58ad-9fdf-2253ce4e2e2c.html |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=June 5, 2018 |url-status=live |date=June 4, 2018 }}{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Salvador |date=July 23, 2018 |title=A Man Pushing A "Child Sex Camp" Conspiracy Theory Has Been Arrested For Trespassing |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/a-man-pushing-a-child-sex-camp-conspiracy-theory-has-been |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=BuzzFeed News |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424070654/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/a-man-pushing-a-child-sex-camp-conspiracy-theory-has-been |url-status=live }}

=Hoover Dam incident=

File:Hoover Dam Matthew Wright vehicle.png

On June 15, 2018, Matthew Phillip Wright of Henderson, Nevada, was arrested on terrorism and other charges for driving an armored truck,{{cite tweet |last=Mills |first=Mark |user=MarkAMills1 |number=1007721528631353344 |date=June 15, 2018 |title=@KTNV I was there, he let my truck go by... This is the sogn he was holding up. https://t.co/530KjQRUhE |language=en |access-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207082740/https://twitter.com/MarkAMills1/status/1007721528631353344 |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |url-status=live}} containing an AR-15 and handgun, to the Hoover Dam and blocking traffic for 90 minutes.{{Cite news |last=Hawkins |first=Dave |date=June 22, 2018 |title=Henderson man who parked armored vehicle near Hoover Dam indicted |language=en-US |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/henderson-man-who-parked-armored-vehicle-near-hoover-dam-indicted/ |access-date=August 6, 2018 |archive-date=August 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806210759/https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/henderson-man-who-parked-armored-vehicle-near-hoover-dam-indicted/ |url-status=live }} He said he was on a mission involving QAnon: to demand that the Justice Department "release the OIG report" on the conduct of FBI agents during the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.{{cite news |last=Brean |first=Henry |date=July 13, 2018 |title=Suspect in Hoover Dam standoff writes Trump, cites conspiracy in letters |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/suspect-in-hoover-dam-standoff-writes-trump-cites-conspiracy-in-letters/ |access-date=July 14, 2018 |issn=1097-1645 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212045209/https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/suspect-in-hoover-dam-standoff-writes-trump-cites-conspiracy-in-letters/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Bank |first1=Justin |last2=Stack |first2=Liam |last3=Victor |first3=Daniel |date=August 1, 2018 |title=What Is QAnon: Explaining the Internet Conspiracy Theory That Showed Up at a Trump Rally |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/us/politics/what-is-qanon.html |access-date=August 1, 2018 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211000701/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/us/politics/what-is-qanon.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Morlin |first=Bill |date=July 20, 2018 |title=Terrorism suspect makes reference to extremist conspiracies |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/07/20/terrorism-suspect-makes-reference-extremist-conspiracies |access-date=August 2, 2018 |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |archive-date=August 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162840/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/07/20/terrorism-suspect-makes-reference-extremist-conspiracies |url-status=live }} Since a copy of the Office of the Inspector General report had been released the day before, the man had been motivated by a Q "drop" which claimed the released version of the report had been heavily modified and that Trump possessed a more damning version but had declined to release it. In video recorded inside his armored truck, Wright expressed disappointment that Trump had not honored a "duty" to "lock certain people up", asking him to "uphold your oath".{{Cite news |last=Sommer |first=Will |date=June 19, 2018 |title=QAnon, the Crazy Pro-Trump Conspiracy, Melts Down Over OIG Report |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/qanon-the-crazy-pro-trump-conspiracy-melts-down-over-oig-report |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=The Daily Beast |archive-date=May 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501094847/https://www.thedailybeast.com/qanon-the-crazy-pro-trump-conspiracy-melts-down-over-oig-report |url-status=live }}

After blocking traffic, Wright drove towards the Arizona side of the bridge, where his tires were flattened by police spike strips. He then surrendered to police after becoming stuck on a dirt road. Nobody was injured during the incident. At trial, Wright was found guilty, and on December 17, 2020, he was sentenced to seven years on a terrorism charge and nine months for unlawful flight, to be served consecutively.{{Cite web |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2021/01/04/qanon-follower-matthew-wright-sentenced-hoover-dam-bridge-standoff/4134612001/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=January 4, 2021 |title=QAnon follower sentenced to nearly 8 years in prison for standoff near Hoover Dam |first=Richard |last=Ruelas |website=The Arizona Republic |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305223805/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2021/01/04/qanon-follower-matthew-wright-sentenced-hoover-dam-bridge-standoff/4134612001/ |url-status=live }}

=Targeting of Michael Avenatti=

On July 29, 2018, Q posted a link to Stormy Daniels's attorney Michael Avenatti's website and photos of his Newport Beach, California, office building, along with the message, "Buckle up!" The anonymous poster then shared the picture of a still unidentified man, appearing to be holding a cellphone in one hand and a long, thin object in the other, standing in the street near Avenatti's office, adding that a message "had been sent". This sparked an investigation by the Newport Beach Police Department. On July 30, Avenatti asked his Twitter followers to contact the Newport Beach Police Department if they "have any details or observed" the man in the picture.{{Cite web |last1=Mezzofiore |first1=Gianluca |last2=Lear |first2=Justin |date=August 3, 2018 |title=How a right-wing conspiracy theory is going mainstream |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/01/us/youtube-qanon-8chan-conspiracy-theory-trnd/index.html |access-date=September 19, 2018 |website=CNN |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919025521/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/01/us/youtube-qanon-8chan-conspiracy-theory-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Sommer |first=Will |date=July 30, 2018 |title=Michael Avenatti Targeted in Person by QAnon, the Crazy Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theory |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/avenatti-targeted-in-person-by-qanon-the-crazy-pro-trump-conspiracy-theory |access-date=September 19, 2018 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916225050/https://www.thedailybeast.com/avenatti-targeted-in-person-by-qanon-the-crazy-pro-trump-conspiracy-theory |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Luke |date=July 31, 2018 |title=Stormy Daniels' lawyer targeted by supporters of pro-Trump conspiracy theory |url=https://thinkprogress.org/stormy-daniels-lawyer-targeted-by-qanon-conspiracy-theory-d2b1f07d0e1f/ |access-date=September 19, 2018 |website=ThinkProgress |language=en-US |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919171734/https://thinkprogress.org/stormy-daniels-lawyer-targeted-by-qanon-conspiracy-theory-d2b1f07d0e1f/ |url-status=live }}

=Harassment of Jim Acosta=

At a Trump rally in Tampa, Florida, on July 31, 2018, Trump supporters exhibited hostile behavior toward CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta. Exponents of QAnon-related theories were at the rally.{{Cite news |last=Embury-Dennis |first=Tom |date=August 1, 2018 |title=Trump supporters filmed hurling sustained abuse at journalists following 'Make America Great Again' rally |language=en-GB |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-florida-rally-supporters-cnn-jim-acosta-tampa-maga-a8472436.html |access-date=August 1, 2018 |issn=0951-9467 |archive-date=May 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501094509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-florida-rally-supporters-cnn-jim-acosta-tampa-maga-a8472436.html |url-status=live }}

The next day, David Martosko of the Daily Mail asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders whether the White House encouraged the support of "QAnon fringe groups". Sanders denounced "any group that would incite violence against another individual", without specifically responding to the QAnon mention.{{Cite news |last=Fredericks |first=Bob |date=July 1, 2018 |title=Sanders denounces media hecklers at Trump rally – then slams the media |language=en |work=New York Post |url=https://nypost.com/2018/08/01/sanders-denounces-media-hecklers-at-trump-rally-then-slams-the-media/ |access-date=July 1, 2018 |issn=1090-3321 |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424043104/https://nypost.com/2018/08/01/sanders-denounces-media-hecklers-at-trump-rally-then-slams-the-media/ |url-status=live }} Sanders added that Trump "certainly doesn't support groups that would support that type of behavior".{{Cite web |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=August 1, 2018 |title=QAnon is the one conspiracy theory to rule them all |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/01/politics/qanon-trump/ |access-date=August 1, 2018 |website=CNN |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424090956/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/01/politics/qanon-trump/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite press release |title=Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders |date=August 1, 2018 |location=James S. Brady Press Briefing Room |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/press-briefing-press-secretary-sarah-sanders-080118/ |last1=Huckabee Sanders |first1=Sarah |access-date=August 2, 2018 |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |author-link=Sarah Huckabee Sanders |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120201002/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/press-briefing-press-secretary-sarah-sanders-080118/ |url-status=live }}

2019

=Murder of James Wolfe=

On January 8, 2019, a 26-year-old Seattle man stabbed his brother James Wolfe in the head with a 4-foot-long sword before calling 911 and confessing to the murder, saying he believed his brother was a lizard. During interrogation the man told detectives he saw lizards in the room and claimed that the detectives themselves were turning into lizards. The suspect had frequently posted about QAnon and had also pledged himself to the Proud Boys, though they denied any affiliation with him.{{cite web |last1=Montgomery |first1=Blake |title=A Man Allegedly Killed His Brother With A 4-Foot Sword Because He Thought He Was A Lizard Person |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/blakemontgomery/man-brother-murder-charge-sword |website=Buzzfeed News |access-date=June 22, 2024 |date=January 9, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Newlin |first1=Brian |title=Seattle man who stabbed his brother to death with 4-foot sword thought he was a lizard, police say |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2019/01/09/seattle-man-who-stabbed-his-brother-to-death-with-4-foot-sword-thought-he-was-a-lizard-police-say/ |website=ClickOnDetroit |access-date=June 22, 2024 |date=January 9, 2019}} The perpetrator claimed to have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and a King County prosecutor described him as "severely mentally ill".{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Sara Jean |title='God told me he was a lizard': Seattle man accused of killing his brother with a sword |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/god-told-me-he-was-a-lizard-seattle-man-accused-of-killing-his-brother-with-a-sword/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |work=The Seattle Times |date=2019-01-08}}

=Grass Valley Charter School fundraiser=

The Blue Marble Jubilee fundraising event at Grass Valley Charter School in Grass Valley, California, scheduled for May 11, 2019, was canceled as a precaution after a tweet by former FBI head James Comey on April 27 using the hashtag #FiveJobsIveHad, in which the first letters of the jobs were GVCSF, was interpreted by QAnon followers as a veiled reference to the Grass Valley Charter School Foundation, suggesting that Comey planned to stage a "false flag" terror attack at the event; the hashtag was also interpreted by QAnon adherents as an anagram of "five jihads", and the time stamp on the post was related to the 9/11 attacks. The police and the FBI received warnings, in addition to the school, which decided not to take the risk of Internet vigilantes attending "to guard the place", as a police sergeant put it.{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2019 |title=QAnon conspiracy theory on James Comey shuts school festival |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48231708 |access-date=May 10, 2019 |newspaper=BBC News |archive-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510180752/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48231708 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Veklerov |first=Kimberly |date=May 9, 2019 |title=Conspiracy theory on James Comey tweet cancels NorCal charter school festival |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Conspiracy-theory-on-James-Comey-tweet-cancels-13832691.php |access-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510180833/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Conspiracy-theory-on-James-Comey-tweet-cancels-13832691.php |url-status=live }}

=Murder of Frank Cali=

{{main|Frank Cali#Death}}

Anthony Comello of Staten Island, New York, was charged with the March 2019 murder of Gambino crime family underboss Frank Cali. According to his defense attorney, Comello had become obsessed with QAnon theories, believing Cali was a member of "deep state" and, "because of his self-perceived status in QAnon, Mr. Comello became certain that he was enjoying the protection of President Trump himself, and that he had the president's full support" to place Cali under citizen's arrest.{{cite news |last1=Allyn |first1=Bobby |title=Lawyer: Shooter Wasn't Trying To Kill A Mob Boss. He Was Under 'QAnon' Delusion |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/22/744244166/shooters-lawyer-he-wasn-t-trying-to-kill-a-mob-boss-he-was-under-qanon-delusion |access-date=February 6, 2022 |work=NPR |date=July 22, 2019}} Confronting Cali outside his home in Staten Island, Comello allegedly shot Cali ten times. At his first court appearance, Comello displayed QAnon symbols and phrases and "MAGA forever" scrawled on his hand in pen.{{Cite news |last=Watkins |first=Ali |date=July 21, 2019 |title=He Wasn't Seeking to Kill a Mob Boss. He Was Trying to Help Trump, His Lawyer Says |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/21/nyregion/gambino-shooting-anthony-comello-frank-cali.html |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722164701/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/21/nyregion/gambino-shooting-anthony-comello-frank-cali.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Reinstein |first=Julia |date=March 18, 2019 |title=The Suspected Gambino Mob Boss Killer Had Apparent QAnon Messages Scrawled On His Hands In Court |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/anthony-comello-francesco-cali-frankie-boy-shooting-maga |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=BuzzFeed News |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424085801/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/anthony-comello-francesco-cali-frankie-boy-shooting-maga |url-status=live }} Comello had also posted material on Instagram praising Fox News personalities such as Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Jeanine Pirro.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Timothy |date=July 22, 2019 |title=Alleged QAnon-inspired murderer was obsessed with Fox News |work=Media Matters for America |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2019/07/22/alleged-qanon-inspired-murderer-was-obsessed-fox-news/224296 |access-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723152319/https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2019/07/22/alleged-qanon-inspired-murderer-was-obsessed-fox-news/224296 |url-status=live }} The reason why Cali was targeted was unclear, as the person behind QAnon's "drops" had not mentioned the Mafia.{{cite book |last1=Rothschild |first1=Mike |title=The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything |date=June 22, 2021 |publisher=Melville House |isbn=978-1-61219-930-6 |page=111 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ak0SEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA111}}

=Kidnapping incidents=

In December 2019, Cynthia Abcug was arrested and charged in Colorado with conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping of one of her children who had been removed from her custody. Her other daughter reported to police that Abcug had been collaborating with an armed male who was "definitely part of this group QAnon", that her mother had gone to QAnon meetings and believed that the child had been taken by "evil Satan worshippers" and "pedophiles".{{Cite web |title=Colorado woman, inspired by QAnon conspiracy, sought to kidnap her own child, police say |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/colorado-mom-inspired-qanon-conspiracy-sought-kidnap-her-own-child-n1111711 |first=Elisha |last=Fieldstadt |date=January 7, 2020 |access-date=September 11, 2020 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=September 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907190904/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/colorado-mom-inspired-qanon-conspiracy-sought-kidnap-her-own-child-n1111711 |url-status=live }} Abcug pleaded not guilty to the charge in September 2020 and was tried in February 2021.{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-kidnapping-archive-denver-colorado-4f4969c0870a33ce771504c3f1f4586e |first=Colleen |last=Slevin |title=Woman accused in QAnon kidnapping plot pleads not guilty |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=Associated Press |date=September 26, 2020 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419090451/https://apnews.com/article/technology-kidnapping-archive-denver-colorado-4f4969c0870a33ce771504c3f1f4586e |url-status=live }}

==Later==

On March 20, 2020, Neely Petrie-Blanchard was arrested and charged with kidnapping and custodial interference after taking her two daughters who had been in the sole legal custody of their grandmother. Petrie-Blanchard had made multiple social media posts promoting QAnon including memes and pictures of her wearing QAnon shirts at Trump rallies. She also has taken actions connected with the sovereign citizen movement, and had become actively involved with E-Clause, a QAnon-affiliated sovereign citizen pseudolaw firm.{{Cite news |last=Sommer |first=Will |date=March 28, 2020 |title=QAnon Mom Charged With Kidnapping Her Kids |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/qanon-mom-charged-with-kidnapping-her-kids |access-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908200615/https://www.thedailybeast.com/qanon-mom-charged-with-kidnapping-her-kids |url-status=live }}{{cite news|date=April 2, 2021|title=How a Custody Fight Plus QAnon Turned Deadly |newspaper=Wall Street Journal|publisher= |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-online-conspiracies-turn-deadly-a-custody-battle-and-a-killing-11617376764|access-date=January 21, 2022}}

In October 2020, Utah mother Emily Jolley abducted her son during a supervised visit, despite the fact that the boy's father had full custody of him. She had promoted QAnon conspiracy theories (including alleging that child protective services have been involved in human trafficking) and was a member of a Facebook page for E-Clause.{{cite news |last1=Sommer |first1=Will |title=Another QAnon Mom Has Allegedly Kidnapped Her Kid |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/another-qanon-mom-has-allegedly-kidnapped-her-kid |access-date=February 6, 2022 |work=The Daily Beast |date=October 1, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Pierce |first1=Scott D. |title=Utah woman who fled state with her 6-year-old son is facing felony charge |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/10/06/utah-woman-who-fled-state/ |access-date=February 6, 2022 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=October 6, 2020}}

On April 13, 2021, a French group influenced by QAnon theories and by a local version of sovereign citizen ideology helped a non-custodial mother abduct her eight-year-old child from the child's grandmother, who had been awarded custody due to concerns over the mother's mental stability and extreme conspiratorial beliefs.{{cite web|accessdate=October 5, 2021|title=French child kidnap plot shows global sway of QAnon style|url=https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-europe-kidnapping-health-79761187c5d2767a8a27072a0e2d81ef|date=October 5, 2021|website=AP NEWS|archive-date=October 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012010206/https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-europe-kidnapping-health-79761187c5d2767a8a27072a0e2d81ef|url-status=live}}{{cite web|accessdate=October 5, 2021|title=French QAnon-style network led to girl's kidnapping|url=https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2021/10/05/french-qanon-style-network-led-girls-kidnapping/6000754001/|website=USA TODAY|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006093423/https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2021/10/05/french-qanon-style-network-led-girls-kidnapping/6000754001/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first1=Adam Sage|last1=Paris|access-date=October 5, 2021|title=Mia Montemaggi, 8, rescued from QAnon gang in Switzerland after being abducted from France|newspaper=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mia-montemaggi-8-rescued-from-qanon-gang-in-switzerland-after-being-abducted-from-france-swq832f6b|issn=0140-0460|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|archive-date=October 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005084338/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mia-montemaggi-8-rescued-from-qanon-gang-in-switzerland-after-being-abducted-from-france-swq832f6b|url-status=live}}{{Citation |title=One Nation: mais qui sont Alice Pazalmar et les êtres souverains? |date=November 19, 2021|url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1101356/article/2021-11-19/one-nation-mais-qui-sont-alice-pazalmar-et-les-etres-souverains

|access-date=June 27, 2022 }} The investigation about the people involved in the kidnapping eventually led to the uncovering of an alleged terrorist conspiracy.{{cite news | title=Sept personnes interpellées dans un dossier lié au complotiste Rémy Daillet, figure de l'ultra-droite| website=France Info| date=March 23, 2022 | url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/faits-divers/enlevements/enlevement-de-mia/sept-personnes-interpellees-dans-un-dossier-lie-au-complotiste-remy-daillet-figure-de-l-ultra-droite_5039301.html | access-date=February 14, 2022 }}

= Trump's 2020 campaign =

File:Merchandise and QAnon supporters (48555556557).jpg at a Donald Trump rally]]

QAnon supporters claim that they were asked to cover up their "Q" identifiers and other QAnon-related symbols at a Trump campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on August 15, 2019. Although one person who was asked to turn his "Q" shirt inside out when he entered the rally identified the person who asked him to do so as a Secret Service agent, the agency denied this, saying in an email to The Washington Post, "The U.S. Secret Service did not request, or require, attendees to change their clothing at an event in New Hampshire." QAnon supporters also claimed that their visibility at Trump rallies had been suppressed for months.{{Cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=August 16, 2019 |title=QAnon supporters claim they were censored at Trump's New Hampshire rally |language=en |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/08/16/qanon-supporters-claim-they-were-censored-trumps-new-hampshire-rally/ |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424080139/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/08/16/qanon-supporters-claim-they-were-censored-trumps-new-hampshire-rally/ |url-status=live }}

In August 2019, a video posted online by "Women for Trump" late in July was reported to include "Q"s on two campaign signs. The first sign, which said "Make America Great Again", had a "Q" taped to it in the corner. The other side, "Women for Trump" had the "O"s in "Women" and "for" pasted over with "Q"s. The images which included the altered signs were clearly taken at a Trump campaign rally, which have increasingly attracted adherents of the QAnon conspiracy theory, so it is unknown if those particular signs were selected for inclusion deliberately or not.{{Cite news |last=Sommer |first=Will |date=August 6, 2019 |title=Trump Campaign Ad Features QAnon Signs |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-campaign-ad-features-qanon-signs |access-date=August 7, 2019 |website=The Daily Beast |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807002122/https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-campaign-ad-features-qanon-signs |url-status=live }} The video has since been taken down.{{Cite news |last=Sheth |first=Sonam |date=August 7, 2019 |title=A Trump campaign ad featured QAnon signs weeks after the FBI warned conspiracy theories are a domestic terrorism threat |work=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-ad-qanon-fbi-conspiracy-theories-domestic-terrorism-2019-8 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424064252/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-ad-qanon-fbi-conspiracy-theories-domestic-terrorism-2019-8 |url-status=live }}

== 2020 and later ==

File:90.ProudBoys.WDC.12December2020 (50720494848).jpg march for Trump in December 2020.]]

In July 2020, Business Insider reported that according to Media Matters for America, Trump's reelection campaign relied on a network of QAnon-related accounts to spread disinformation and propaganda on social media, especially Twitter. An analysis of 380,000 tweets sent between early April and the end of May 2020, and another of the most popular words used by 1,000 accounts, showed that the QAnon network "is playing a key role in generating and spreading Trump's propaganda".{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Tom |date=July 11, 2020 |title=The Trump campaign relies on a huge network of QAnon accounts to spread conspiracy theories and disinformation, data shows |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-sources-propaganda-from-qanon-network-2020-6 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=September 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917185802/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-sources-propaganda-from-qanon-network-2020-6 |url-status=live }}

The Washington Post reported at the beginning of August 2020 that adverts for Trump's campaign had shown images of supporters with prominent QAnon merchandise. Thousands of comments on YouTube saw these details as signs of victory.{{Cite news|last=Stanley-Becker|first=Isaac|date=August 2, 2020|title=How the Trump campaign came to court QAnon, the online conspiracy movement identified by the FBI as a violent threat|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-trump-campaign-came-to-court-qanon-the-online-conspiracy-movement-identified-by-the-fbi-as-a-violent-threat/2020/08/01/dd0ea9b4-d1d4-11ea-9038-af089b63ac21_story.html|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008112455/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-trump-campaign-came-to-court-qanon-the-online-conspiracy-movement-identified-by-the-fbi-as-a-violent-threat/2020/08/01/dd0ea9b4-d1d4-11ea-9038-af089b63ac21_story.html|url-status=live}}

The New York Times wrote that QAnon adherents had been shaken by Trump's defeat in the 2020 presidential elections, following years of reassurance that Trump would win by a landslide. Some followers repeated unsubstantiated claims that there had been widespread voter fraud and that Trump had actually been reelected, while others began to accept Biden's victory.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/technology/qanon-election-trump.html|title=Shocked by Trump's Loss, QAnon Struggles to Keep the Faith|first=Kevin|last=Roose|date=November 10, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 19, 2021|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112015727/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/technology/qanon-election-trump.html|url-status=live}} On the day of Biden's inauguration, participants on 8kun differed in their views on the future of their cause. Ron Watkins, a former 8kun administrator and major figure in spreading QAnon,{{Cite web|last=McKay|first=Tom|date=November 19, 2020|title=Great, We're at the '8kun's Admin Is an Election Security Expert' Stage of This Bullshit|url=https://gizmodo.com/great-were-at-the-8kuns-admin-is-an-election-security-1845719735|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=Gizmodo|language=en-us|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120095924/https://gizmodo.com/great-were-at-the-8kuns-admin-is-an-election-security-1845719735|url-status=live}} suggested it was time to "go back to our lives as best we are able" and "as we enter into the next administration please remember all the friends and happy memories we made together over the past few years." A board moderator deleted the Q message history and was threatened with death after the content was restored by others. Some suggested that Biden was "part of the plan".{{cite news |last1=Harwell |first1=Drew |title=QAnon believers grapple with doubt, spin new theories as Trump era ends |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/20/qanon-trump-era-ends/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211210328/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/20/qanon-trump-era-ends/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/qanon-trump-biden-inauguration-storm-b1790243.html|title='What happened?': QAnon followers left upset and angry as conspiracy theory's 'storm' fails to materialise|work=The Independent|last=Griffin|first=Andrew|date=January 21, 2021|access-date=January 21, 2021|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121090707/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/qanon-trump-biden-inauguration-storm-b1790243.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-qanon-idUSKBN29P2VO|title='No plan, no Q, nothing': QAnon followers reel as Biden inaugurated|publisher=Reuters|last1=Menn|first1=Joseph|last2=Culliford|first2=Elizabeth|last3=Paul|first3=Katie|last4=Monahan|first4=Carrie|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=January 21, 2021|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121000110/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-qanon-idUSKBN29P2VO|url-status=live}}

In February 2021, Media Matters published analysis finding that QAnon adherents were praising the recent 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, in which the military overthrew the democratically elected government, and advocating a similar coup in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/qanon-supporters-and-far-right-message-boards-hail-myanmar-coup-and-say|title=QAnon supporters and far-right message boards hail Myanmar coup and say the same thing should happen in America|website=Media Matters for America|date=February 2, 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=May 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531175118/https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/qanon-supporters-and-far-right-message-boards-hail-myanmar-coup-and-say|url-status=live}} In May 2021, a conference called "For God & Country: Patriot Roundup" was organized in Dallas, Texas by influencer John Sabal (also known as "QAnon John") and his girlfriend.{{cite news |first1=Jacob |last1=Vaughn|title=A QAnon Power Couple Is Behind the For God & Country Patriot Roundup |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/a-qanon-couple-is-behind-the-for-god-and-country-patriot-roundup-at-dallas-hotels-12003194 |access-date=February 14, 2022 |work=Dallas Observer |date=April 6, 2021}}

Though Sabal claimed that it was not a "QAnon conference", multiple high-profile QAnon figures took part in the event, including lawyers L. Lin Wood and Sidney Powell – both of whom had been involved in Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election – and General Michael Flynn. When an audience member said, "I want to know why what happened in Myanmar can't happen here", Flynn responded, "No reason. I mean, it should happen here. No reason. That's right." After his words were reported, Flynn asserted he had "not at any time called for any action of that sort" and accused the press of "boldface fabrication based on twisted reporting".{{Cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ex-trump-adviser-michael-flynn-says-myanmar-like-coup-should-happen-in-u-s-11622426143|title=Ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn says Myanmar-like coup 'should happen' in U.S.|first=Mike|last=Murphy|website=MarketWatch|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601005140/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ex-trump-adviser-michael-flynn-says-myanmar-like-coup-should-happen-in-u-s-11622426143|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-flynn-backtracks-no-reason-coup-in-us-qanon-convention-2021-5|title=Michael Flynn denies suggesting a Myanmar-style military coup should happen in the US|first=Connor|last=Perrett|website=Business Insider|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601025337/https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-flynn-backtracks-no-reason-coup-in-us-qanon-convention-2021-5|url-status=live}} He had suggested in December 2020 that Trump should suspend the Constitution, silence the press, and hold a new election under military authority.Multiple sources:

  • {{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/michael-flynn-suspend-constitution-martial-law-trump-reelection-b1765467.html|title=Michael Flynn calls for Trump to suspend the constitution and declare martial law to re-run election|date=December 3, 2020|website=The Independent|access-date=December 4, 2020|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201019/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/michael-flynn-suspend-constitution-martial-law-trump-reelection-b1765467.html|url-status=live}}
  • {{Cite web|url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/952902/freshly-pardoned-michael-flynn-shares-message-telling-trump-suspend-constitution-hold-new-presidential-election|title=Freshly pardoned Michael Flynn shares message telling Trump to 'suspend the Constitution' to hold a new presidential election|date=December 2, 2020|website=The Week|access-date=December 3, 2020|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201112/https://theweek.com/speedreads/952902/freshly-pardoned-michael-flynn-shares-message-telling-trump-suspend-constitution-hold-new-presidential-election|url-status=live}}
  • {{Cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/politics/michael-flynn-newly-pardoned-calls-for-trump-to-temporarily-suspend-the-constitution-and-impose-martial-law-edited/|title=Michael Flynn Calls for Trump to 'Suspend the Constitution,' Impose Martial Law|date=December 2, 2020|access-date=December 3, 2020|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208200941/https://www.mediaite.com/politics/michael-flynn-newly-pardoned-calls-for-trump-to-temporarily-suspend-the-constitution-and-impose-martial-law-edited/|url-status=live}}

At the same conference, Powell falsely asserted that Trump "can simply be reinstated, that a new Inauguration Day is set", eliciting cheers from the crowd.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-trump-lawyer-sidney-powell-tells-qanon-crowd-trump-can-be-reinstated-as-president-2021-5|title=Ex-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell showed up to a QAnon conference in a biker vest and falsely claimed Trump could be 'reinstated' as president|first=Eliza|last=Relman|website=Business Insider|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605113619/https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-trump-lawyer-sidney-powell-tells-qanon-crowd-trump-can-be-reinstated-as-president-2021-5|url-status=live}} Two days after Powell's remarks, Maggie Haberman of The New York Times tweeted that Trump "has been telling a number of people he's in contact with that he expects he will get reinstated by August."{{Cite web|url=https://theweek.com/news/1001028/trump-has-reportedly-been-telling-people-hell-be-reinstated-by-august|title=Trump has reportedly been telling people he'll be 'reinstated' by August|website=The Week|date=June 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=June 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607070935/https://theweek.com/news/1001028/trump-has-reportedly-been-telling-people-hell-be-reinstated-by-august|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-expects-to-be-reinstated-as-president-august-2021-6|title=Trump is telling people he thinks he'll be 'reinstated' as president in August, according to a report|first=Jake|last=Lahut|website=Business Insider|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=June 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607064054/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-expects-to-be-reinstated-as-president-august-2021-6|url-status=live}}

2020

=Tintagel flag=

File:Tintagel QAnon Flag.svg

In January 2020, John Mappin (also affiliated with Turning Point UK) began to fly a Q flag at the Camelot Castle hotel near to Tintagel Castle.{{Cite news |last=Townsend |first=Mark |date=January 11, 2020 |title=Fan of Trump and Farage raises far-right 'Q' flag at his Cornish castle |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/11/trum-and-farage-supporter-flies-flag-for-qanon-rar-right-conspiracy |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512082947/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/11/trum-and-farage-supporter-flies-flag-for-qanon-rar-right-conspiracy |url-status=live }} Advocacy group Hope not Hate said, "Mappin is an eccentric figure, considered outlandish even by his fringe rightwing peers. This childish ploy is a weak attempt at getting attention for himself and his marginal Turning Point UK organisation, and is better off being ignored."{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2020 |title=Far-right 'QAnon' conspiracy theory flag flown over Cornish castle |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/john-mappin-camelot-castle-tintagel-donald-trump-qanon-flag-theory-1362499 |website=i |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607224641/https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/john-mappin-camelot-castle-tintagel-donald-trump-qanon-flag-theory-1362499 |url-status=live }}

=Eduardo Moreno arrest=

In April 2020, Eduardo Moreno, a 44-year-old locomotive engineer, intentionally derailed a moving train near to the USNS Mercy when the ship was docked in the Port of Los Angeles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/feds-charge-man-who-intentionally-derailed-train-near-usns-mercy-n1174461|title=Feds charge man with intentionally derailing train near USNS Mercy|website=NBC News |date=April 1, 2020 |first=Andrew |last=Blankstein}} Moreno believed the hospital ship was being used for nefarious purposes, and he wanted to "wake people up."{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/02/train-derails-usns-mercy-coronavirus/|title=Engineer intentionally crashes train near hospital ship Mercy, believing in weird coronavirus conspiracy, feds say|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Meagan|last=Flynn |date=April 2, 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/02/825897966/train-engineer-says-he-crashed-in-attempt-to-attack-navy-hospital-ship-in-l-a|title=Train Engineer Says He Crashed In Attempt To Attack Navy Hospital Ship In L.A.|website=NPR |first=Bill|last=Chappell |date=April 2, 2020}} In April 2022, Moreno was sentenced to three years in prison.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/train-engineer-sentenced-3-years-intentional-derailment-los-angeles/|title=Train engineer gets 3 years for intentional derailment in Los Angeles|website=CBS News |date=April 13, 2022 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/man-inspired-by-qanon-and-hopped-up-on-caffeine-purposefully-derailed-train/|title=Man Inspired by QAnon and Hopped Up on Caffeine Purposefully Derailed Train|date=April 15, 2022 |first=Matthew|last=Gault}}

=Austin Steinbart arrest=

In April 2020, QAnon influencer Austin Steinbart, also known as "Baby Q" or "Baby QAnon", who claimed that he was a secret agent working for Trump and that Q was his own time-travelling future self, was arrested by the FBI on an extortion charge.{{Cite news |last=Sommer|first=Will|date=April 7, 2020 |title=Baby QAnon Was Just Arrested |work=The Daily Beast |url= https://www.thedailybeast.com/baby-qanon-was-just-arrested |access-date=February 20, 2021 }}{{Cite news |last=Sommer|first=Will|date=April 6, 2021|title=A QAnon influencer who claims to be from the future was released after spending 225 days in prison|work= Insider|url=https://www.insider.com/baby-q-released-from-prison-after-harassment-campaign-2021-4|access-date=February 20, 2021 }} Steinbart had hacked into the records of a California-based medical facility, obtained private information about celebrity patients and threatened the facility to leak the information.{{Cite news |last=Reagan|first=Kevin|date=April 29, 2021|title=Chandler man pleads to extorting business |newspaper= SanTan Sun News|url=https://santansun.com/2021/04/29/chandler-man-pleads-to-extorting-business/ |access-date=February 21, 2021 }} His followers had also been harassing a technology firm which had deleted some of his files on copyright grounds. Court documents described Steinbart as a young man with "unaddressed behavior or mental health issues", willing to break the law to build up his status as a conspiracy theorist. Steinbart pleaded guilty and was released for time served in April 2021.

=Jessica Prim arrest=

In April 2020, Jessica Prim was arrested carrying several knives after live-streaming her attempt to "take out" presidential nominee Joe Biden. Prim was arrested in New York City on a pier where she appeared to have been trying to get to the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Comfort. QAnon claimed the ship was used by a cabal of pedophiles. During her arrest, Prim was reportedly shown crying and asking police, "Have you guys heard about the kids?"

Before her arrest, Prim posted on Facebook that Hillary Clinton and Biden "need to be taken out" and that "Hillary Clinton and her assistant, Joe Biden and Tony Podesta need to be taken out in the name of Babylon!{{nbs}}... I can't be set free without them gone. Wake me up!!!!!"

Prim's Facebook page was filled with references to QAnon. She encouraged her Facebook followers to check out QAnon "clues". In a video posted just hours before her arrest, Prim ranted about the "Frazzledrip" video which supposedly depicted Hillary Clinton and her aide Huma Abedin murdering a child.{{Cite news |last=Sommer |first=Will |date=April 30, 2020 |title=A QAnon Devotee Live-Streamed Her Trip to N.Y. to 'Take Out' Joe Biden |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-qanon-devotee-live-streamed-her-trip-to-ny-to-take-out-joe-biden |access-date=May 8, 2020 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507033952/https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-qanon-devotee-live-streamed-her-trip-to-ny-to-take-out-joe-biden |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Margot |date=May 1, 2020 |title=A woman inspired by QAnon conspiracy videos was arrested after live-streaming her trip to 'take out' Joe Biden |url=https://www.insider.com/biden-qanon-supporter-arrested-attemp-live-streaming-trip-to-take-2020-5 |access-date=July 4, 2020 |website=Insider.com |language=en |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115161935/https://www.insider.com/biden-qanon-supporter-arrested-attemp-live-streaming-trip-to-take-2020-5 |url-status=live }}

=Intrusion into Justin Trudeau's residence=

On July 2, Corey Hurren, a Canadian Army reservist and sausage-making business owner, rammed a truck through the gates of Rideau Hall, the temporary residence of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. Hurren, who carried a gun, was arrested 13 minutes later. He had published QAnon-related content and hashtags on his company's Instagram feed.{{cite news |last1=Cecco |first1=Leyland |title=Armed man roamed Justin Trudeau's grounds for 13 minutes after ramming gates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/03/armed-man-roamed-justin-trudeaus-grounds-for-13-minutes-after-ramming-gates |access-date=February 21, 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=July 3, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Ling |first1=Justin |title=QAnon's Madness Is Turning Canadians Into Potential Assassins |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/13/qanon-canada-trudeau-conspiracy-theory/ |access-date=February 21, 2022 |work=Foreign Policy |date=July 13, 2020}} At the time of his arrest, he told officers that his goal had been to "make a statement" to Trudeau by showing up during one of his daily media briefings.{{cite news |last1= Tunney |first1=Catharine |title=Corey Hurren sentenced to 6 years in prison for breaching Rideau Hall gates while armed|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/corey-hurren-rideau-hall-sentencing-decision-1.5943612 |access-date=February 22, 2022 |work=CBC News|date=March 10, 2021}}

At his trial, Hurren pleaded guilty to seven weapons-related charges and one charge of mischief, and explained that he had wanted to "arrest" Trudeau over the COVID-19 restrictions, which he said were damaging his business, and over the federal ban on assault-style firearms. The court commented that Hurren had committed a "politically motivated, armed assault" to intimidate the government, showed no remorse and had not renounced his beliefs in conspiracy theories. In March 2021, he was sentenced to six years in prison and a lifetime firearm ban.

= Misinformation about wildfires =

{{Main|2020 Western United States wildfire season}}

As wildfires spread across large parts of the Western U.S. in September 2020, false rumors spread on social media that antifa activists were setting fires and preparing to loot property that was being evacuated. Some residents refused to evacuate based on the rumors, choosing to defend their homes from the supposed invasion. Authorities pleaded with residents to ignore the false rumors.{{Cite web |last1=Healy |first1=Jack |last2=Baker |first2=Mike |date=September 11, 2020 |title=In Oregon, a Year of Political Tumult Extends to Devastating Wildfires |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/11/us/fires-oregon-antifa-rumors.html |access-date=April 19, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912063918/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/11/us/fires-oregon-antifa-rumors.html |url-status=live }} A firefighters' union in Washington state described Facebook as "an absolute cesspool of misinformation" on the topic. QAnon followers participated in the misinformation, with one false claim that six antifa activists had been arrested for setting fires amplified by Q specifically.{{Cite web |title=West Coast officials are already fighting wildfires. Now they're fighting misinformation, too. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/wildfires-rage-false-antifa-rumors-spur-pleas-police-n1239881 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |first1=Brandy|last1=Zadrozny |author-link1=Brandy Zadrozny|first2=Ben |last2=Collins |website=NBC News |date=September 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913200349/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/wildfires-rage-false-antifa-rumors-spur-pleas-police-n1239881 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |first1=Donie |last1=O'Sullivan |first2=Konstantin |last2=Toropin |date=September 11, 2020 |title=QAnon fans spread fake claims about real fires in Oregon |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/tech/qanon-oregon-fire-conspiracy-theory/index.html |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=CNN |archive-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912105440/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/tech/qanon-oregon-fire-conspiracy-theory/index.html |url-status=live }} Days earlier, Trump and Attorney General Bill Barr had amplified false social media rumors that planes and buses full of antifa activists were preparing to invade communities, allegedly funded by George Soros.{{Cite web |title=Trump's 'plane loaded with thugs' conspiracy theory matches months-old rumor |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-s-plane-loaded-thugs-rumor-matches-months-old-facebook-n1238962 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=September 1, 2020 |first=Ben |last=Collins |website=NBC News |archive-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912054556/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-s-plane-loaded-thugs-rumor-matches-months-old-facebook-n1238962 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2020 |title=Trump: 'Weak' Joe Biden Won't Calm Things Down |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-weak-biden-wont-calm-things-down-people-that-are-in-the-dark-shadows-are-pulling-his-strings/ |first=Josh |last=Feldman |work=Mediaite |access-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914114450/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-weak-biden-wont-calm-things-down-people-that-are-in-the-dark-shadows-are-pulling-his-strings/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=False antifa rumors about a suburban invasion take over neighborhood social media apps |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/antifa-rumors-spread-local-social-media-no-evidence-n1222486 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=NBC News |date=June 2, 2020 |first1=Brandy|last1=Zadrozny |author-link1=Brandy Zadrozny|first2=Ben |last2=Collins |archive-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912033037/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/antifa-rumors-spread-local-social-media-no-evidence-n1222486 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last3=Longhi |first1=Robert |last1=Anglen |first2=Richard |last2=Ruelas |first3=Lorraine |title=Fake social media posts incite fear of suburban marauders, rape and murder across the U.S. |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-investigations/2020/06/05/fake-social-media-posts-incite-arizona-fear-marauders-rape-and-murder/3125894001/ |date=June 5, 2020 |website=The Arizona Republic |access-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914114449/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-investigations/2020/06/05/fake-social-media-posts-incite-arizona-fear-marauders-rape-and-murder/3125894001/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=In Klamath Falls, Oregon, victory declared over antifa, which never showed up |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/klamath-falls-oregon-victory-declared-over-antifa-which-never-showed-n1226681 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |first1=Brandy|last1=Zadrozny |author-link1=Brandy Zadrozny|first2=Ben |last2=Collins |date=June 6, 2020 |website=NBC News |archive-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912054558/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/klamath-falls-oregon-victory-declared-over-antifa-which-never-showed-n1226681 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Jan |date=September 3, 2020 |title=U.S. Attorney General Barr says antifa 'flying around' U.S. to incite violence |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-race-barr-police-idUSKBN25T3AI |access-date=April 19, 2021 |work=Reuters |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910080623/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-race-barr-police-idUSKBN25T3AI |url-status=live }}

=Pennsylvania mail carrier arrest=

On October 12, 2020, special agents with the United States Postal Service's Office of Inspector General raided the Baldwin, Pennsylvania home of a mail carrier from the Mount Oliver post office. Agents found eight garbage bags of undelivered mail outside the home. The undelivered mail included one application for a mail-in ballot, but no ballots. The mail carrier had posted about QAnon and Pizzagate on Facebook.{{cite web |last1=Deto |first1=Ryan |title=Pittsburgh-area mail carrier under investigation is apparent QAnon conspiracy theorist |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/news/pittsburgh-area-mail-carrier-under-investigation-is-apparent-qanon-conspiracy-theorist-18171888 |website=Pittsburgh City Paper |access-date=June 22, 2024 |date=October 13, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Two Pittsburgh-Area Postal Carriers Charged with Delay or Destruction of Mail |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/two-pittsburgh-area-postal-carriers-charged-delay-or-destruction-mail |website=Department of Justice |access-date=June 22, 2024 |date=October 14, 2020}}

=2020 presidential election=

{{main|Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election}}

{{see also|2020–21 United States election protests|Italygate}}

File:Million MAGA March IMG 4607a.jpg wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a common QAnon logo, at the "Stop the Steal" rally on November 14, 2020]]

Near Philadelphia's Convention Center, where mail-in ballots were being counted, two men from Virginia were taken into custody based on a tip of a threat of an attack with AR-15s. Bumper stickers on their truck referenced QAnon.{{Cite news|title=Two Arrested After Police Get Tip of Convention Center Threat|url=https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/two-arrested-after-police-get-tip-of-convention-center-threat/2587411/|date=November 6, 2020|access-date=January 8, 2021|website=NBC10 Philadelphia|language=en-US|archive-date=January 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113043744/https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/two-arrested-after-police-get-tip-of-convention-center-threat/2587411/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=November 6, 2020|title=2 Heavily Armed Men Found Outside Pennsylvania Convention Center Taken Into Custody As Police Investigate Threat Of Attack|url=https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/11/06/2-heavily-armed-men-found-outside-pennsylvania-convention-center-taken-into-custody-as-police-investigate-threat-of-attack/|access-date=November 6, 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106111712/https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/11/06/2-heavily-armed-men-found-outside-pennsylvania-convention-center-taken-into-custody-as-police-investigate-threat-of-attack/|url-status=live}}

As unsubstantiated allegations of voting fraud spread following Trump's defeat in the election, QAnon followers advanced a hoax that voting machines made by Dominion Voting Systems had deleted millions of Trump votes. The hoax was repeated on the far-right cable news outlet One America News Network, and Trump tweeted about it.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/q-fades-qanon-s-dominion-voter-fraud-conspiracy-theory-reaches-n1247780 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |title=QAnon's Dominion voter fraud conspiracy theory reaches the president |website=NBC News |date=November 13, 2020 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115030155/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/q-fades-qanon-s-dominion-voter-fraud-conspiracy-theory-reaches-n1247780 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/technology/no-dominion-voting-machines-did-not-delete-trump-votes.html|access-date=April 19, 2021|title=No, Dominion voting machines did not delete Trump votes.|first=Jack|last=Nicas|date=November 11, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115030030/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/technology/no-dominion-voting-machines-did-not-delete-trump-votes.html|url-status=live}} The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency announced that the election was the most secure in American history, with "no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes or was in any way compromised".{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/top-officials-elections-most-secure-66f9361084ccbc461e3bbf42861057a5 |first1=Eric |last1=Tucker |first2=Frank |last2=Bajak |access-date=April 19, 2021 |title=Repudiating Trump, officials say election 'most secure' |date=November 13, 2020 |website=AP News |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115030026/https://apnews.com/article/top-officials-elections-most-secure-66f9361084ccbc461e3bbf42861057a5 |url-status=live }}

Based on a false interpretation of the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871, according to which it transformed the federal government into a corporation and rendered illegitimate every president elected thereafter, some QAnon adherents believed that the 18th president (Ulysses S. Grant, who was in office 1869–1877) was the last legitimate president. They believed that Trump would be sworn in as the 19th president on March 4, 2021, the original inauguration date until the Twentieth Amendment changed it to January 20 in 1933, and that he would restore the federal government.Multiple sources:

  • {{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qanon-thinks-trump-will-become-president-again-on-march-4/ |title=QAnon Thinks Trump Will Become President Again on March 4 |first=David |last=Gilbert |date=January 25, 2021 |website=Vice |access-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207150951/https://www.vice.com/en/article/88akpx/qanon-thinks-trump-will-become-president-again-on-march-4 |url-status=live }}
  • {{Cite web|url=https://mynorthwest.com/2521073/mckenna-qanon-1871-act-constitution/|access-date=April 16, 2021|title=Former WA Attorney General on QAnon theory claiming Trump will be president on March 4|date=January 29, 2021|website=MyNorthwest.com|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215062336/https://mynorthwest.com/2521073/mckenna-qanon-1871-act-constitution/|url-status=live}}
  • {{Cite web |url=https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/hold-the-line-qanon-adherents-claim-trump-will-become-president-again-on-march-4/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |title='Hold the Line': QAnon Adherents Claim Trump Will Become President Again on March 4 |first=Karim |last=Zidan |date=February 10, 2021 |website=Right Wing Watch |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301230922/https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/hold-the-line-qanon-adherents-claim-trump-will-become-president-again-on-march-4/ |url-status=live }}
  • {{Cite news|last=Feeld|first=Julian|date=February 10, 2021|title=Podcaster explains QAnon belief behind March 4th|work=CNN Video|url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/media/2021/02/10/qanon-march-fourth-conspiracy-theory-julian-feeld-newday-camerota-vpx.cnn|access-date=February 13, 2021|archive-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305143825/https://edition.cnn.com/videos/media/2021/02/10/qanon-march-fourth-conspiracy-theory-julian-feeld-newday-camerota-vpx.cnn|url-status=live}} This claim was developed by the sovereign citizen movement.{{cite news|url=https://factcheck.thedispatch.com/p/did-legislation-passed-in-1871-make|title=Did Legislation Passed in 1871 Make Washington, D.C., a Foreign Entity?|last=Himmelman|first=Kaya|work=The Dispatch|date=January 28, 2021|access-date=February 2, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/qanon-trump-march-sovereign-citizen-fbi-b1792830.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/qanon-trump-march-sovereign-citizen-fbi-b1792830.html |archive-date=May 7, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=April 16, 2021 |title=QAnon merges with white extremists and spreads new conspiracy Trump will be president again on March 4|last=Spocchia|first=Gino|work=The Independent|date=January 26, 2021}} Based on intelligence that an identified but undisclosed militia group might attempt an attack on the Capitol on that date, the U.S. Capitol Police issued an alert on March{{nbs}}3. House leadership subsequently rescheduled a March{{nbs}}4 vote to the previous night to allow lawmakers to leave town.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/us/politics/capitol-riot-qanon-trump.html|access-date=April 19, 2021|title=Capitol Police Warn of Threat on Thursday, and House Cancels the Day's Session|first1=Zolan|last1=Kanno-Youngs|first2=Matthew|last2=Rosenberg|date=March 3, 2021|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304033514/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/us/politics/capitol-riot-qanon-trump.html|url-status=live}} However, Newsweek reported a recent skepticism towards the March{{nbs}}4 idea developing among QAnon adherents, who rescheduled the purported date of Trump's re-inauguration to March 20, the 167th anniversary of the founding of the Republican Party.{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/qanon-theorists-switch-date-march-20-after-no-trump-inauguration-call-4th-false-flag-1573871|title=QAnon Theorists Switch Date to March 20 After No Trump Inauguration, Call the 4th 'False Flag'|publisher=Newsweek|last=Czachor|first=Emily|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304222411/https://www.newsweek.com/qanon-theorists-switch-date-march-20-after-no-trump-inauguration-call-4th-false-flag-1573871|url-status=live}}

In Philadelphia, 44-year-old Joshua Macias and 63-year-old Antonio Lamotta of Virginia drove a Hummer–emblazoned with a QAnon sticker–to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where votes were being counted for the election. Police arrested the two and searched the SUV, which was loaded with handguns and a rifle. The two were convicted on weapons charges in 2023. Lamotta was also charged in connection with the January 6 riot.{{cite web |last1=Alvarez |first1=Alejandro A. |title=No additional jail time for Trump supporters who brought guns near the 2020 Philly vote count |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/joshua-macias-antonio-lamotta-qanon-philadelphia-election-guns-no-jail-20230301.html |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=June 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319174313/https://www.inquirer.com/news/joshua-macias-antonio-lamotta-qanon-philadelphia-election-guns-no-jail-20230301.html |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |date=March 1, 2023}}

=Henderson apartment shooting=

{{Main|2020 Henderson shooting}}

On November 3, 38-year-old Jason Neo Bourne (who had renamed himself after the characters Jason Bourne and Neo) opened fire at his neighbor's apartment in Henderson, Nevada, killing the mother and the family's housekeeper and paralyzing the teenage daughter. He then kidnapped the 12-year-old son and brought him to the parking lot, where the boy was shot and killed as police approached. Bourne was killed by police shortly after. An investigation of his computer found he "strongly believed in QAnon theories".{{cite web |last1=Ritter |first1=Ken |title=Officials air findings in Nevada shooting that left 4 dead |url=https://apnews.com/article/automotive-accidents-law-enforcement-las-vegas-nevada-6ae8572665482d9c06312c005f330458 |website=AP News |access-date=July 10, 2023 |date=January 23, 2023}}

=Murder of Chris Hallett=

On November 15, Christopher "Chris" Hallett, a sovereign citizen ideologue who operated the pseudolaw firm E-Clause, was murdered by one of his associates, Neely Petrie-Blanchard, a non-custodial mother who had kidnapped her children in January of the same year. Hallett advertised his services through a social media community of conspiracy theorists which included QAnon supporters like Petrie-Blanchard as well as flat earthers, though according to his family he did not share those beliefs himself. E-Clause had notably associated with a QAnon group calling itself the Pentagon Pedophile Task Force.

Petrie-Blanchard, who had relied on E-Clause to win back custody of her children, started out as a client and later worked for the firm; she had ultimately come to believe that Hallett was involved in the government conspiracy against her.{{cite news|date=November 17, 2020|title=Florida QAnon Supporter Shoots Dead Legal Theorist Over Alleged Conspiracy Involving Her Child, Police Say|newspaper=Newsweek|publisher= |url= https://www.newsweek.com/florida-qanon-supporter-shoots-dead-legal-theorist-over-alleged-conspiracy-involving-her-child-1548237|access-date=January 21, 2022}}{{cite news|date=December 2, 2020|title=QAnon beliefs, promise of child custody help hang over deadly shooting|newspaper=NBC News|publisher= |url= https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/qanon-beliefs-promise-child-custody-help-hang-over-deadly-shooting-n1249602|access-date=January 21, 2022}}{{cite news|date=January 27, 2021|title=QAnon Mom Arrested For Murder of Fringe Legal Theorist|newspaper=The Daily Beast|publisher= |url= https://www.thedailybeast.com/qanon-mom-arrested-for-murder-of-fringe-legal-theorist-in-florida|access-date=January 21, 2022}}

=Oregon State Capitol breach=

{{main|Oregon State Capitol breach}}

On December 21, over a hundred protesters, some of whom were armed, entered the Oregon State Capitol to protest COVID-19 policies. The protesters included members of the Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer, and supporters of QAnon. One man who had attempted to break in assaulted two reporters, while another fired a chemical irritant at police officers. In 2021 Oregon State Representative Mike Nearman, who was seen on surveillance footage letting some of the protesters in through a side door, was expelled from the House in a 59–1 vote, with the only vote to stay coming from Nearman himself. Nearman pled guilty to first-degree official misconduct later that year.{{cite web |last1=Withycombe |first1=Claire |last2=Barreda |first2=Virginia |title=4 arrests made after protesters attempt to enter Oregon State Capitol during session |url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/21/protesters-gather-oregon-legislature-starts-special-session/3993102001/ |website=Statesman Journal |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=December 22, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Lawmakers remove state legislator over Oregon Capitol breach |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/lawmakers-remove-state-legislator-over-oregon-capitol-breach-n1270445 |website=NBC News |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=June 11, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=VanderHart |first1=Dirk |title=Former Rep. Mike Nearman pleads guilty to official misconduct in Oregon Capitol incursion |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/27/former-oregon-rep-mike-nearman-guilty-plea-salem-capitol-incursion/ |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=July 27, 2021}}

2021

=Participation in the January 6 United States Capitol attack=

{{Main|January 6 United States Capitol attack}}

File:102.East.USCapitol.WDC.6January2021 (50824307713).jpg

Various QAnon-affiliated protesters participated in the attack on the United States Capitol building on January 6, 2021. Rioters were either seen wearing clothing with Q-related emblems or identified as QAnon followers from video footage.{{cite news|last=Culbertson|first=Alix|url=https://news.sky.com/story/us-capitol-from-neo-nazis-and-conspiracy-theorists-to-a-politician-who-stormed-the-capitol-12181628|title=US Capitol: Q-Anon, Confederate flag man, and Baked Alaska – here are the people who stormed the building|work=Sky News|date=January 8, 2021|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108011216/https://news.sky.com/story/us-capitol-from-neo-nazis-and-conspiracy-theorists-to-a-politician-who-stormed-the-capitol-12181628|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Venkataramakrishnan|first1=Siddharth|last2=Manson|first2=Katrina|url=https://www.ft.com/content/8ee1f26a-619a-46d2-98c2-be3eb34fcd5e|title=Who were the Capitol insurrectionists?|work=Financial Times|date=January 7, 2021|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107213041/https://www.ft.com/content/8ee1f26a-619a-46d2-98c2-be3eb34fcd5e|url-status=live}}

Ashli Babbitt, a rioter who was shot dead by police as she was trying to get into the Speaker's Lobby, was an adherent of QAnon. On the day of the attack, she had retweeted a message from conspiracy theory attorney L. Lin Wood which called for the immediate resignation of Mike Pence, Rod Rosenstein and John Roberts and for the indictment of the first two.{{cite news |work=Law & Crime |url=https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/pro-trump-woman-shot-and-killed-at-u-s-capitol-retweeted-attorney-lin-woods-must-be-done-list-before-she-died/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |title=Pro-Trump Woman Shot and Killed at U.S. Capitol Retweeted Attorney Lin Wood's 'Must Be Done' List Before She Died |first=Aaron |last=Keller |date=January 6, 2021 |quote=A Twitter account linked to Babbitt, which was reviewed extensively by Law&Crime Wednesday night, indicates that Babbitt was a staunch QAnon adherent who retweeted dozens of conspiracy-theory-laden missives originally posted by Georgia attorney L. Lin Wood. |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202063421/https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/pro-trump-woman-shot-and-killed-at-u-s-capitol-retweeted-attorney-lin-woods-must-be-done-list-before-she-died/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news|last1=Zadrozny|first1=Brandy|author-link1=Brandy Zadrozny|last2=Gains|first2=Mosheh|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/woman-killed-capitol-was-trump-supporter-who-embraced-conspiracy-theories-n1253285|title=Woman killed in Capitol was Trump supporter who embraced conspiracy theories|work=NBC News|date=January 7, 2021|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108020719/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/woman-killed-capitol-was-trump-supporter-who-embraced-conspiracy-theories-n1253285|url-status=live}} One of the most notable participants in the riots was Jake Angeli, whose presence was widely reported by the media because of his "shamanic" attire and war paints. Angeli, also known as the "QAnon Shaman", was a known QAnon supporter who had participated in various protests.{{Cite news |last=Ruelas |first=Richard |title=QAnon supporter from Arizona dressed in fur and horns joins storming of US Capitol |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/06/arizona-qanon-supporter-jake-angeli-joins-storming-us-capitol/6570514002/ |date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=January 10, 2021 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110111949/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/06/arizona-qanon-supporter-jake-angeli-joins-storming-us-capitol/6570514002/ |url-status=live }} On January 12, Facebook and Twitter announced that they were removing "Stop the Steal" content and suspending 70,000 QAnon-focused accounts, respectively.{{Cite news|title=Facebook Removes 'Stop The Steal' Content; Twitter Suspends QAnon Accounts|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/insurrection-at-the-capitol/2021/01/12/956003580/facebook-removes-stop-the-steal-content-twitter-suspends-qanon-accounts|first=Brakkton|last=Booker|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=January 14, 2021|newspaper=NPR|language=en|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115002255/https://www.npr.org/sections/insurrection-at-the-capitol/2021/01/12/956003580/facebook-removes-stop-the-steal-content-twitter-suspends-qanon-accounts|url-status=live}} On April 19, 2021, the Soufan Center reported that Russia and China had amplified and "weaponized" QAnon stories around the time of the attack "to sow societal discord and even compromise legitimate political processes."{{Cite web|date=April 19, 2021|title=Quantifying The Q Conspiracy: A Data-Driven Approach to Understanding the Threat Posed by QAnon|url=https://thesoufancenter.org/research/quantifying-the-q-conspiracy-a-data-driven-approach-to-understanding-the-threat-posed-by-qanon/|url-status=live|access-date=April 19, 2021|website=The Soufan Center|language=en-US|archive-date=November 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122062449/https://thesoufancenter.org/research/quantifying-the-q-conspiracy-a-data-driven-approach-to-understanding-the-threat-posed-by-qanon/}}{{Cite web|last=Cohen|first=Zachary|date=April 19, 2021|title=China and Russia 'weaponized' QAnon conspiracy around time of US Capitol attack, report says|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/19/politics/qanon-russia-china-amplification/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 19, 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=November 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102053503/https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/19/politics/qanon-russia-china-amplification/index.html}}

=Portland courthouse shooting=

On January 8, a 39-year-old man allegedly fired five shots at a federal building in Portland, Oregon. No injuries were reported. The suspect had posted QAnon theories on his YouTube channel and was arrested at a "Stop the Steal" rally in Salem two days prior.{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Conrad |title=Man charged with shooting Portland federal courthouse attended Salem 'Stop the Steal' protest |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2021/01/11/man-who-shot-federal-courthouse-in-portland-attended-stop-the-steal-protest-in-salem/ |website=OPB |access-date=June 23, 2024 |date=January 11, 2021}}

= Middlesbrough attempted murder=

On January 18, Middlesbrough, England man Anthony Beckett attacked his pregnant wife with a hammer while she was washing her hair in a bathtub. The victim escaped and ran into the street to call for help. Beckett was obsessed with the 2020 election, had posted QAnon theories about the COVID-19 pandemic, and believed the U.S. and Chinese governments were after him and that only President Trump could save him.{{cite web |last1=Musumeci |first1=Natalie |title=A QAnon believer tried to kill his pregnant partner with a hammer while she was bathing |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/qanon-believer-attempted-murder-pregnant-partner-hammer-attack-uk-2021-6 |website=Business Insider |access-date=June 23, 2024 |date=June 22, 2021}}

=Interruption of Ghislaine Maxwell court hearing=

On January 19, 2021, a hearing on the unsealing of documents related to a settled Ghislaine Maxwell civil defamation suit with Virginia Roberts Giuffre was interrupted after it was discovered that someone present was unlawfully streaming the proceedings on YouTube. The unauthorized stream reached approximately 14,000 viewers, including a contingent of QAnon supporters, before it was shut off after the judge warned the room.{{Cite web|date=January 19, 2021|title=Ghislaine Maxwell court hearing disrupted by apparent QAnon followers|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/19/ghislaine-maxwell-court-proceeding-qanon|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=The Guardian|first=Victoria|last=Bekiempis|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120213431/http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/19/ghislaine-maxwell-court-proceeding-qanon|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Hodjat|first=Arya|date=January 19, 2021|title=QAnon Loyalists Cause Chaos During Ghislaine Maxwell Hearing|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/hearing-on-release-of-sealed-ghislaine-maxwell-court-docs-interrupted-by-qanon-cultists|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=The Daily Beast|language=en|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119191411/https://www.thedailybeast.com/hearing-on-release-of-sealed-ghislaine-maxwell-court-docs-interrupted-by-qanon-cultists|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Judge orders release of more Ghislaine Maxwell records – minus salacious details |work=Miami Herald |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article248600605.html |access-date=January 21, 2021 |first1=Kevin G. |last1=Hall |first2=Ben |last2=Wieder |first3=Julie K. |last3=Brown |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125123412/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article248600605.html |url-status=live }}

=Murder of Jessica Burke=

On January 27, 2021, 45-year-old Troy Burke shot and killed his wife Jessica Burke at their Elwell, Michigan home. Court records stated Troy Burke believed he was getting messages from QAnon circles telling him to kill his wife, and that his wife was a "transgender offspring of President Joe Biden" and "CIA-linked child sex trafficker". He was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Teh |first1=Cheryl |title=Prosecutors say a Michigan man shot and killed his wife after being convinced by QAnon that she was a child sex trafficker working for the CIA |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/man-killing-wife-qanon-sex-trafficker-working-for-cia-2022-2 |website=Business Insider |access-date=June 24, 2024 |date=February 10, 2022}}

=Wisconsin Army Reserve Center Incident=

On March 15, 2021, Ian Alan Olson drove to an Army Reserve center in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and shouted "This is for America" before firing two paintball rounds at nearby reservists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2021/03/21/wisconsin-qanon-believer-charged-shooting-army-base/4789701001/|title=Wisconsin QAnon believer shot paintball gun at Army Reserve members in Pewaukee, threatened 'mass casualty' event, prosecutors say|first=Sophie|last=Carson|date=March 21, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/qanon-follower-went-dc-something-crazy-stupid-on-march-4-2021-3|title=A QAnon supporter drove 800 miles to DC for March 4 and was 'willing to die' to realize his 'crazy stupid' plans|website=Business Insider |first=Joshua|last=Zitser |date=March 21, 2021}} On November 18, Olsen was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wisconsin-milwaukee-us-army-6866ecd5faf984263f69c439a45c1b42|title=QAnon backer sentenced to 14 months for attack on reservists|website=Associated Press News |date=November 18, 2021 }}

=Liliana Carrillo Killings=

On April 10, 2021, Liliana Carrillo killed her children, Joanna, 3; Terry, 2; and Sierra, 6 months. Carrillo, who suffered from depression, had become deeply involved in QAnon-based conspiracy theories.{{cite web |last1=Hamilton |first1=Matt |last2=Winton |first2=Richard |title=Mother unraveled in depression, QAnon-style conspiracies in months before she killed 3 kids |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-17/mother-unraveled-in-depression-qanon-style-conspiracies-in-months-before-she-killed-3-kids |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 26, 2024 |date=April 17, 2021}}

=Murder of Ralph Mendez=

On May 12, 2021, 44-year-old Rory Banks broke into the Wheatland, California home of Ralph Mendez, 55, and shot him to death, before calling 911 on himself. Mendez, a registered sex offender, was written on a list that included three other sex offenders who lived in Wheatland, and prosecutors said Banks planned to kill all of them. Banks believed heavily in QAnon and had a Q sticker on the back of his vehicle. His attorney argued an insanity defense, but he was convicted of murder.{{cite web |last1=Press-Reynolds |first1=Kieran |title=A QAnon believer was convicted of premeditated murder after allegedly trying to kill everyone on the sex offender list in a California city |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/qanon-rory-banks-wheatland-murder-ralph-mendez-california-conspiracy-theory-2022-11 |website=Business Insider |access-date=June 22, 2024 |date=November 7, 2022}}

=Matthew Taylor Coleman killings=

On August 12, 2021, a follower of QAnon and a father of two was charged with murdering his two children, a two-year-old son and ten-month-old daughter, with a spearfishing gun in Mexico. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Matthew Taylor Coleman, fled back to U.S. after the murders and was arrested there. He claimed that he was "enlightened" by QAnon and other alleged delusions that his wife carried and passed on "serpent DNA" to his kids, which compelled Coleman to take them to Mexico and murder them to prevent them from growing into monsters. Coleman is in a Californian prison pending trial for the killings.{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-qanon-dad-killed-his-children-with-spear-fishing-gun-over-serpent-dna-fbi|title=US QAnon dad killed his children with spear fishing gun over 'serpent DNA': FBI|date=August 12, 2021|website=The Straits Times (Singapore)|access-date=August 13, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812145937/https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-qanon-dad-killed-his-children-with-spear-fishing-gun-over-serpent-dna-fbi|url-status=live}}{{cite news | first1=Jamie | last1=Ross | first2=Justin | last2=Rohrlich | title=Surf School Owner Killed Kids After Being 'Enlightened' by QAnon: Feds | website=The Daily Beast | date=August 11, 2021 | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/matthew-taylor-coleman-surf-school-owner-arrested-after-his-kids-1-and-3-found-stabbed-to-death | access-date=August 12, 2021 | archive-date=August 12, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812221644/https://www.thedailybeast.com/matthew-taylor-coleman-surf-school-owner-arrested-after-his-kids-1-and-3-found-stabbed-to-death | url-status=live }} On October 13, 2023, a judge ruled that Coleman couldn't stand trial.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2023-10-12/coleman-competency-ruling-mexico-san-diego|title=Conspiracy theorist charged with killing his children in Rosarito not competent to stand trial, judge finds|date=October 12, 2023 }}

===Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann case===

Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann, a French far-right conspiracy theorist living in Malaysia, adapted QAnon theories for a French audience and published online videos in which he called for an overthrow of the French government.{{cite news | first1=Esther | last1=Paolini | title=Affaire Mia: ce que contiennent les vidéos du complotiste Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann | website=BFM TV| date=April 20, 2021 | url=https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/affaire-mia-ce-que-contiennent-les-videos-du-complotiste-remy-daillet-wiedemann_AN-202104200407.html | access-date=February 14, 2022 }}{{cite news | first1=Samuel | last1=Laurent| first2=Damien | last2=Leloup| first3= Lucie | last3=Soullier | title=Rémy Daillet, l'homme au cœur de la " mouvance " conspirationniste impliquée dans l'enlèvement de Mia | website=Le Monde| date=April 20, 2021 | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/04/20/ce-que-l-on-sait-de-remy-daillet-et-de-sa-nebuleuse-conspirationniste-a-l-origine-de-l-enlevement-de-mia_6077448_3224.html | access-date=February 14, 2022 }} In June 2021, he was expelled from Malaysia,{{cite news | title=Malaysia deports conspiracy theorist wanted in France over abduction | website=The Straits Times| date=June 13, 2021 | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-deports-conspiracy-theorist-wanted-in-france-over-abduction | access-date=February 15, 2022 }}{{cite news | title=Enlèvement de Mia : l'expulsion du complotiste français Rémy Daillet s'enlise à Singapour | website=Le Figaro| date=June 13, 2021 | url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/le-complotiste-francais-remy-daillet-et-sa-famille-expulses-de-malaisie-20210613 | access-date=February 15, 2022 }} deported back to France and put under arrest for his involvement in the kidnapping of a child{{cite news | title=Enlèvement de Mia : Rémy Daillet est arrivé en France | website=France Info| date=June 16, 2021 | url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/faits-divers/enlevements/enlevement-de-mia/enlevement-de-mia-remi-daillet-est-arrive-en-france_4665709.html | access-date=February 14, 2022 }}{{cite news | title=Affaire Mia : Rémy Daillet mis en examen et écroué | website=Le Télégramme| date=June 16, 2021 | url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/france/affaire-mia-remy-daillet-presente-aux-juges-a-nancy-16-06-2021-12770538.php | access-date=February 15, 2022 }} who had been removed from the care of her conspiracy theorist mother.{{cite news | title=Enlèvement de Mia : Lola Montemaggi, une mère enfermée dans une spirale complotiste| website=France Info| date=April 24, 2021 | url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/faits-divers/enlevements/enlevement-de-mia/enquete-franceinfo-enlevement-de-mia-lola-montemaggi-une-mere-enfermee-dans-une-spirale-complotiste_4382325.html | access-date=February 14, 2022 }} Daillet-Wiedemann had helped coordinate the abduction from Malaysia.

In October 2021, Daillet-Wiedemann was charged with running a terrorist organization after it emerged that he and his Internet followers - who included members of a neo-Nazi group - had been seriously planning to carry out the coup he advocated against the French government. Several associates of Daillet-Wiedemann were also arrested.{{cite news| first1=Lucie | last1=Soullier| title=Rémy Daillet, figure du complotisme, mis en examen pour " association de malfaiteurs terroriste criminelle " | website=Le Monde| date=October 22, 2021 | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/10/22/remy-daillet-figure-du-complotisme-mis-en-examen-pour-association-de-malfaiteurs-terroriste-criminelle_6099595_3224.html | access-date=February 14, 2022 }}{{cite news| first1=Jérémie | last1=Pham-Lê| first2=Vincent | last2= Gautronneau| first3=Jean-Michel | last3=Décugis| title=Projet d'attentat d'un groupe néonazi : le gourou ultra-complotiste Rémy Daillet et sa secrétaire en garde à vue | website=Le Parisien| date=October 21, 2021 | url= https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/projet-dattentat-dun-groupe-neonazi-le-gourou-ultra-complotiste-remy-daillet-et-sa-secretaire-en-garde-a-vue-21-10-2021-WTJDQ7IKGZFDPHERYRV2DAKTZE.php | access-date=February 14, 2022 }} Besides the coup attempt, the group had planned other violent actions, including attacks against COVID-19 vaccination centers, masonic lodges, public figures and 5G antennas.{{cite news| title=Quatre proches du complotiste d'ultradroite Rémy Daillet en garde à vue pour des projets d'actions violentes | website=Le Monde| date=October 5, 2021 | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/10/05/quatre-proches-du-complotiste-d-ultradroite-remy-daillet-en-garde-a-vue-pour-des-projets-d-actions-violentes_6097217_3224.html | access-date=February 15, 2022 }} In March 2022, seven other people were interrogated by the police for their involvement in Daillet-Wiedemann's network.

=Death threats against Canadian healthcare workers=

Romana Didulo, a QAnon-affiliated, Philippines-born conspiracy theorist residing in British Columbia and styling herself as the "Queen of Canada", built an online following in the course of 2021 and caused her community to harass Canadian businesses, governments and police forces with hundreds of "cease and desist" notices demanding that they stop their activities related to combating the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |author=Marc Lamoureux |title=QAnons Are Harassing People at the Whim of a Woman They Say Is Canada's Queen|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qanons-are-harassing-people-at-the-whim-of-a-woman-they-say-is-canadas-queen-romana-didulo/|access-date=February 14, 2022 |work=Vice.com |date=June 17, 2021}} Didulo eventually called on her 73,000 Telegram followers to "shoot to kill" all healthcare workers administering COVID-19 vaccines to children under 19. On November 27, a search warrant was issued against her; she was apprehended the same day and taken to a hospital for a mental health assessment. She was later released.{{cite news |author1=Andrew Russell |author2=Stewart Bell |title=Self-declared 'Queen of Canada' detained by RCMP after alleged threats to health-care workers |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8417379/queen-of-canada-covid-online-threats/ |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=Global News |date=December 1, 2021 |location=Toronto ON}}{{cite news |author1=Anders Anglesey |title=QAnon Influencer Romana Didulo Detained Over Alleged 'Shoot To Kill' Medics Posts|url=https://www.newsweek.com/qanon-influencer-romana-didulo-detained-over-alleged-shoot-kill-medics-posts-1655320 |access-date=February 16, 2022 |newspaper=Newsweek |date=December 2, 2021 }}

2022

= National Butterfly Center incident =

After a QAnon-related conspiracy theory spread on social media that the National Butterfly Center was smuggling immigrants into the US, in late January 2022 two people visited the center referring to "the rafts with the illegal crossing" and to child rape, then reportedly injured the director, Marianna Trevino Wright, and almost struck her son with their vehicle. In response, the center closed for three days the following weekend as a precaution during the We Stand America rally nearby, and announced on February 3, 2022, that it would be closed indefinitely for "the safety of our staff and visitors".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60254327 |title=Texas butterfly centre closes after QAnon threats |publisher=BBC News |date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=February 4, 2022 }}{{Cite news|last=Goodman|first=J. David|date=February 6, 2022|title=How a Butterfly Refuge at the Texas Border Became the Target of Far-Right Lies|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/us/butterfly-center-texas.html|access-date=February 6, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}

= Freedom Convoy 2022 =

{{main|Canada convoy protest}}

The Freedom Convoy 2022 ({{langx|fr|Convoi de la Liberté}}) was a protest in Canada against COVID-19 vaccine requirements for truckers to re-enter the country by land introduced by the Government of Canada on January 15, 2022.{{Cite web|date=January 23, 2022|title=VIDEO: Crowd of supporters greets anti-vaccine-mandate truck convoy as it leaves Vancouver for Ottawa|url=https://www.interior-news.com/news/video-crowd-of-supporters-greets-anti-vaccine-mandate-truck-convoy-as-it-leaves-vancouver-for-ottawa-2/|website=Smithers Interior News}} The trucking convoys were then joined by pedestrian protesters.{{cite news |title=Toronto police, city officials preparing for potential Queen's Park convoy protest |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-convoy-covid-protest-1.6338088 |access-date=February 6, 2022 |work=CBC News |date=February 3, 2022}}

One of the lead organizers of the convoy, James Bauder, has previously stated support for QAnon, endorsed conspiracy theories around the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and called for the arrest of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for alleged treason.{{Cite web|title=MPs Told to Hide From Anti-Vaxxer Convoy by Parliament Security Chief|website=Vice World News|date=January 28, 2022 |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/mps-told-to-hide-from-anti-vaxxer-trucker-convoy-by-parliament-security-chief/|access-date=January 29, 2022}} On February 3, 2022, Romana Didulo joined the convoy with supporters.{{cite news |author1=Leyland Cecco |author2=Amru Salahuddien |author3=Tracey Lindeman |title=Ottawa protests: tensions grow as 'intolerable' truck blockade paralyzes Canada capital |url=https://www.theguardian.com/discover-cool-canada/2022/feb/03/ottawa-protests-tensions-grow-truck-blockade-paralyzes-canada-capital |access-date=February 3, 2022 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guaridan News & Media Ltd. |date=February 3, 2022 |location=London UK}}

=Break-in at a Tokyo vaccination center=

A Japanese QAnon-affiliated group called YamatoQ waged an online disinformation campaign against the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Japan,{{Cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14856722|title=Son of YamatoQ member feels he is losing his dad to conspiracies | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis|work=The Asahi Shimbun }} claiming that the coronavirus did not exist and that vaccinations were part of a plan to decrease the population through the administration of harmful substances. Its members were recruited through social media.{{cite web | url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220407/k00/00m/040/172000c | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417035919/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220407/k00/00m/040/172000c | archive-date=April 17, 2022 | title=接種会場に侵入容疑、男女4人を逮捕 反ワクチン団体関係者か | 毎日新聞 | work=毎日新聞 }}

On April 7, 2022, twelve members of YamatoQ trespassed into a Shibuya health care clinic that provided COVID-19 vaccine shots; four of them were immediately arrested by officers from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Public Security Bureau.{{Cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14592759|title = Members tied to QAnon arrested over break-in at vaccine center|newspaper=The Asahi Shimbun|date=April 7, 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASQ4745CSQ47UTIL018.html | title=Qアノン日本版メンバーか、4人逮捕 ワクチン接種の会場に侵入容疑:朝日新聞デジタル | date=April 7, 2022 }}

The group's leader, a former V-Cinema actor named Hiroyuki Kuraoka, was arrested on April 20.{{Cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14602865|title = YamatoQ leader arrested after followers disrupt vaccine clinic|newspaper=The Asahi Shimbun|date=April 20, 2022 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/japan-qanon-arrest-covid-anti-vax/|title =Japanese QAnon Leader Arrested for Entering COVID-19 Vaccination Site to 'Save Kids'|newspaper=Vice.com|first1=Hanako|last1=Montgomery|date=April 22, 2022 }} He was sentenced by the Tokyo District Court on December 22, 2022, with four other YamatoQ members for trespassing on various vaccination sites.{{cite web | url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/12/08fe312fb863-japans-qanon-members-convicted-of-trespassing-covid-vaccination-sites.html | title=Japan's QAnon members convicted of trespassing COVID vaccination sites }}

In June 2022, YamatoQ announced that they would create Eden-based communes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14651164|title=YamatoQ group building 'Eden' communities in the countryside | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis|work=The Asahi Shimbun }} In November 2022, pro-YamatoQ influencer Daisuke Murai was arrested for allegedly misappropriating money from unemployment benefits and donations for personal expenses.{{cite journal | doi=10.1093/ssjj/jyae003 | title=Conspiracy theories and the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: The rise, radicalization, and fall (?) of YamatoQ-kai | date=2024 | last1=Demelius | first1=Yoko | last2=Szczepanska | first2=Kamila | journal=Social Science Japan Journal | volume=27 | issue=2 | pages=149–168 | doi-access=free }} During Murai's first trial at the Osaka District Court on March 17, 2023, Murai denied the charges and claimed that the arrests are done to suppress the anti-vaccine movement.{{cite web | url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASR3K4K04R3GUHBI03H.html | title=「神真都Q会」代表の弁護側、生活保護費詐取事件でも反ワクチン主張:朝日新聞デジタル | date=March 17, 2023 }} On March 15, 2024, Murai was found guilty of the charges and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.{{cite web | url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ac6b56def064da937db7b8fd83ab4a02cf124e0f | title=【速報】生活保護を不正受給したなど詐欺の罪に問われた反ワクチン団体「神真都Q会」代表理事の男に実刑判決 大阪地裁(Abcニュース) | access-date=August 1, 2024 | archive-date=August 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801070150/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ac6b56def064da937db7b8fd83ab4a02cf124e0f | url-status=dead }}

Officers from the Shizuoka Prefectural Police and the Yaizu Police Station arrested YamatoQ members for supposedly trespassing on a COVID-19 vaccination site in Yaizu, Shibuya.{{cite web | url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20221201/k00/00m/040/225000c | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201083700/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20221201/k00/00m/040/225000c | archive-date=December 1, 2022 | title=「神真都Q会」関係者8人を逮捕 ワクチン接種会場に侵入容疑 | 毎日新聞 | work=毎日新聞 | access-date=August 1, 2024 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.sanspo.com/article/20221201-CAF3G3E4KVJ6RFXKWIW3CDIVO4/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201114655/https://www.sanspo.com/article/20221201-CAF3G3E4KVJ6RFXKWIW3CDIVO4/ | archive-date=December 1, 2022 | title=反ワクチン「神真都Q会」理事ら8人逮捕 接種会場侵入疑い、静岡 - サンスポ | work=サンスポ | date=December 2022 }} Shizuoka Prefectural Police launched a raid on the office of YamatoQ on December 5, 2022.{{cite web | url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/12/3c8a19d4a9aa-qanons-japan-arm-searched-over-obstructing-covid-vaccinations.html | title=QAnon's Japan arm searched over obstructing COVID vaccinations }}

=Attempted "arrest" of Peterborough police officers=

On August 10, Romana Didulo called on her Telegram followers to "arrest" the police forces of Peterborough, Ontario, for enforcing COVID-19 restrictions.{{Cite news |last=Anglesey |first=Anders |date=August 12, 2022 |title=QAnon 'Queen of Canada' Orders Followers to Arrest Police Officers |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/qanon-queen-canada-orders-followers-arrest-ontario-police-officers-1733084 |url-status=live |access-date=August 24, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823000146/https://www.newsweek.com/qanon-queen-canada-orders-followers-arrest-ontario-police-officers-1733084|archive-date=August 23, 2022}} Three days later, about 40 of Didulo's followers demonstrated in front of the Peterborough Police station and, after listening to a speech from Didulo, attempted to perform a citizen's arrest of the police officers, whom they accused of "COVID crimes".{{cite web |last=Lamoureux |first=Mack |date=August 23, 2022 |title=Inside the QAnon Queen's Cult: 'The Abuse Was Non-Stop' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qanon-queen-romana-didulo-cult-convoy-canada/ |access-date=August 23, 2022 |website=Vice News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824090420/https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7ze5w/qanon-queen-romana-didulo-cult-convoy-canada|archive-date=August 24, 2022|url-status=live}} They were not allowed to enter the police station. Six of the demonstrators ended up being arrested; two of them were charged with assaulting a police officer. Didulo later attempted to distance herself from the event by announcing that she had been merely an observer and not a participant.{{cite news |last=Lamoureux |first=Mack |work=Vice News |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/queen-romana-didulo-citizen-arrest-qanon/ |title=The 'QAnon Queen' Told Her Followers to Arrest Cops. It Didn't Go Well. |date=August 15, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Greg |date=August 15, 2022 |title=3 Romana Didulo followers charged after attempting to 'arrest' Peterborough police |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9060426/romana-didulo-peterborough/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 24, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816234748/https://globalnews.ca/news/9060426/romana-didulo-peterborough/|archive-date=August 16, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Greg |date=August 18, 2022 |title=Police arrest Romana Didulo follower who ripped counter-protester's sign in Peterborough |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9068606/romana-didulo-follower-sign-ripped-arrested/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 24, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820033307/https://globalnews.ca/news/9068606/romana-didulo-follower-sign-ripped-arrested/|archive-date=August 20, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Greg |date=August 25, 2022 |title=5th arrest made after Romana Didulo followers attempt to arrest Peterborough police |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9084388/5th-arrest-romana-didulo-arrest-peterborough-police/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825154137/https://globalnews.ca/news/9084388/5th-arrest-romana-didulo-arrest-peterborough-police/ |archive-date=August 25, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Greg |date=August 26, 2022 |title=6th arrest of Romana Didulo followers who attempted to arrest police in Peterborough |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9087002/6th-arrest-romana-didulo-followers-arrest-police-officers-peterborough/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827100507/https://globalnews.ca/news/9087002/6th-arrest-romana-didulo-followers-arrest-police-officers-peterborough/ |archive-date=August 27, 2022}}

= Walled Lake family shooting =

On September 11 in Walled Lake, Michigan, a QAnon adherent named Igor Lanis shot his wife, one of his two daughters and the family dog following a heated argument. The wife and dog were killed and the daughter was hospitalized. Officers from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and Walled Lake Police Department shot and killed Lanis after he opened fire on them.

The other daughter, Rebecca Lanis, was out of the house at the time and was not harmed. She told reporters that her father had once been kind but had become rude and unsociable after becoming obsessed with several QAnon-related conspiracy theories following the 2020 presidential election. Lanis posted about her experience to r/QAnonCasualties shortly after the shooting.{{cite news |first=Kara |last=Berg |title=Police fatally shoot Walled Lake man who allegedly killed wife, shot daughter |date=September 11, 2022 |work=The Detroit News |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/09/11/walled-lake-man-killed-police-after-killing-wife-shooting-daughter/8058356001/ |access-date=September 12, 2022}}{{cite news |first=David |last=Gilbert |title=QAnon Follower Killed Wife and Shot Daughter Before Cops Shot Him Dead |date=September 12, 2022 |work=Vice News |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qanon-igor-lanis-walled-lake-michigan-murder/ |access-date=September 12, 2022}}{{cite news |author=Daily Kos Staff |title=Tragedy in small Michigan town once again demonstrates how lethal conspiracy theories can be |date=September 12, 2022 |work=Daily Kos |url=https://dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/12/2122496/-QAnon-strikes-again-Conspiracist-Michigan-father-guns-down-family-in-election-denialist-rage |access-date=September 13, 2022}}

= Attack on Paul Pelosi =

{{main|Attack on Paul Pelosi}}

On October 28, Paul Pelosi, husband of Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was assaulted at his home and beaten with a hammer by a man. The suspect, David DePape, operated a blog that featured QAnon content among other conspiracy theories.{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Rachel |last2=Gardiner |first2=Dustin |last3=Ravani |first3=Sarah |date=October 28, 2022 |title=What we know about David DePape, man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/What-we-know-about-David-DePape-man-accused-of-17542056.php |website=San Francisco Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028224024/https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/What-we-know-about-David-DePape-man-accused-of-17542056.php |access-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}

= German coup d'état plot =

{{main|2022 German coup d'état plot}}

On December 7, police in Germany arrested 25 people for allegedly plotting an overthrow of the German government. Part of the alleged plot included planning to storm the Reichstag building. At least 50 people are alleged to be a part of the group, which included QAnon adherents as well as people involved with the Reichsbürger movement.{{cite web |last1=Kirby |first1=Paul |title=Germany arrests 25 accused of plotting coup |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63885028 |website=BBC News |access-date=December 7, 2022 |date=December 7, 2022}}

2023

= Expulsion of Liz Harris =

In February 2023, QAnon supporter and Arizona State Representative Liz Harris, who had been elected to her position the previous November, invited local insurance agent Jacqueline Berger to testify before a joint meeting of representatives and senators. During the testimony, Berger accused several officials of taking bribes from Mexican cartels and accused the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of money laundering and controlling government agencies. Following this, Representative Ben Toma, who was one of the people Berger accused of bribery, introduced legislation to expel Harris. A House ethics probe found Harris knew that Berger would make false allegations during her testimony but lied about not knowing what she would say.{{cite web |last1=Vigdor |first1=Neil |title=Arizona House Republicans Expel One of Their Own |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/12/us/politics/liz-harris-expelled-arizona-house-republicans.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=April 12, 2023 |date=April 12, 2023|quote=Representative Liz Harris, an election denier who has expressed support for QAnon and has aligned herself with Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder who has pushed election conspiracy theories, was overwhelmingly removed from office by her colleagues.}}

= Highlands Ranch booby trap =

On March 10, a door-to-door salesman in Highlands Ranch, Colorado was approaching a home when he set off a tripwire, setting off a device that created a loud boom noise. Investigators stated the device was a 12-gauge shotgun round without the projectiles. Shortly after a homeowner exited the home and told the salesman and his co-worker "no trespassing". Police arrested the two homeowners, finding a pepper spray trap at the back door. One of the homeowners had around 14,000 followers on a Twitter account where she frequently promoted QAnon.{{cite web |last1=Solomon |first1=Marissa |last2=Clark |first2=Kyle |title=Highlands Ranch woman arrested for booby trapping her home is known QAnon conspiracist |url=https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/next/next-with-kyle-clark/highlands-ranch-woman-arrested-booby-trapping-home-qanon-conspiracist/73-57e4aa0c-651a-4d1f-a9a8-ac60e02ed280 |website=NBC 9 |access-date=June 23, 2024 |date=March 24, 2023}}

= Arrest outside Obama residence =

On June 28, a 37-year-old QAnon supporter live-streamed himself driving to the National Institute of Standards and Technology offices in Gaithersburg, Maryland, making several statements threatening to blow up the building with a bomb in his van. The next day, the prosecutors issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with actions at the January 6 riot. That same day, the man live-streamed himself outside former President Barack Obama's home, saying he was looking for "entrance points" and "tunnels underneath their homes". He was arrested by Secret Service agents at the scene. Police found a machete, 400 rounds of ammunition, and two handguns in his van.{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Spencer S. |title=U.S.: Man with guns near Obama home threatened McCarthy, Raskin |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/07/05/us-man-with-guns-near-obama-home-threatened-mccarthy-raskin-nist/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 13, 2024 |date=July 5, 2023}}

= Death of Michael Protzman =

Michael Protzman, also known as "Negative48",{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qanon-jfk-cult-tearing-families-apart/|title=The QAnon JFK Cult in Dallas Is Tearing Families Apart|date=November 22, 2021}} leader of a QAnon faction known for its claims regarding the divine lineage of the Kennedys, died on June 30 in Rochester, Minnesota, following a dirt bike accident.{{cite web |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Donnie |title=Why are some QAnon followers obsessed with JFK? CNN Why are some QAnon followers obsessed with JFK? |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2023/09/14/qanon-jfk-michael-protzman-donie-osullivan-zw-orig-contd.cnn |website=cnn.com |date=September 23, 2023 |publisher=CNN |access-date=12 November 2023}}

He was reportedly succeeded by a 13-year-old girl known as "Tiny Teflon", who has expressed an interest in recruiting more children into the group by teaching them its idiosyncratic version of gematria.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qanon-jfk-tiny-teflon-13-year-old-girl/|title=A 13-Year-Old Girl Is Apparently the New Leader of the JFK-QAnon Cult|date=August 16, 2023 }}

= New Mexico statue protest shooting =

On September 28, 2023, a man was arrested after he allegedly shot a protester during a demonstration against a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate in Española, New Mexico. The alleged shooter had repeatedly expressed belief in the QAnon theory and had posted in support of a different man who shot a protester during a 2020 protest in Albuquerque against another Juan de Oñate statue.{{cite web |last1=Beale |first1=Andrew |title=Rio Arriba shooter supported 2020 Oñate shooting, online posts show radical rabbit hole |url=https://sourcenm.com/2023/10/11/rio-arriba-shooter-supported-2020-onate-shooting-online-posts-show-radical-rabbit-hole/ |website=Source NM |access-date=October 11, 2023 |date=October 11, 2023}}

2024

= Atlanta FBI office car-ramming =

On April 1, 2024, a man was arrested for allegedly trying to enter the FBI field office in Atlanta. According to an affidavit, the man attempted to drive through the entrance by tailing an employee, hitting a gate, before getting out and attempting to walk through. An investigation by an open source group found the suspect had online ties to QAnon-related content.{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Ryan J. |title=Ex-military member charged with crashing into FBI office had online links to QAnon, report says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/rcna146223 |website=NBC News |access-date=April 11, 2024 |date=April 3, 2024}}

= Los Angeles eclipse murders =

On April 8, 2024, 34-year-old Danielle Johnson pushed her two daughters out of a moving vehicle on the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles, killing her 8-month-old daughter and injuring her other daughter, age 9. Johnson then crashed her car near the highway, killing herself. Two hours later, a neighbor who had heard Johnson and her partner Jaylen Chaney arguing the night prior called police after discovering blood in their apartment elevator. Police found Chaney dead in the apartment, having been stabbed to death. Johnson was an astrology influencer under the handles Ayoka and MysticxLipstick who frequently posted about QAnon. In the days prior to the murders, Johnson had posted about the solar eclipse that occurred on April 8, and had reposted a Tweet from a QAnon account warning of the eclipse the day prior.{{cite web |last1=Jaime |first1=Angie |title=We Can't Blame Astrology in Influencer Danielle Johnson's Case. Any Spiritual Practice Can Incite Violence. |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/astrology-is-at-the-center-of-danielle-johnson-murder-case-but-any-spiritual-practice-can-incite-violence |website=Teen Vogue |access-date=May 21, 2024 |date=April 16, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Danielle |title=What We Know About the Astrology Influencer Accused of Killing Her Family |url=https://www.thecut.com/article/danielle-asoka-murder-suicide-tragedy-explained.html |website=The Cut |access-date=May 21, 2024 |date=April 11, 2024}}

References