Edward Kelley, a Donald Trump supporter, is facing charges for plotting to kill FBI special agents investigating him on January 6th. He was armed with a gun when he breached the U.S. Capitol, making him the fourth rioter to do so. Kelley, along with a co-defendant, also planned to murder FBI employees in December 2022. Prosecutors presented evidence that Kelley may have been armed and wore a gun holster during the attack. Kelley, who is still in pre-trial custody, did not testify during his trial. He has a history of anti-abortion activism and was seen wearing a sweatshirt with a pro-life message during the riot.
Prosecutors also presented testimony about Kelley’s activities leading up to the attack, including purchasing ammunition and gas masks. Kelley was observed taking selfies inside the Senate chamber and advocating for his wife to use an encrypted messaging app. More than 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, with over 1,100 convictions secured and more than 600 defendants sentenced to jail time. The prosecutors emphasized the need for accountability for those who participated in the attack, which marked the first time the Capitol had been breached since the War of 1812. In a court trial, FBI agents testified about evidence linking Kelley to a possible weapon carry during the Capitol breach.
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