Edward Kelley, a supporter of Donald Trump, is accused of plotting to kill FBI agents investigating him on Jan. 6 while armed with a gun during the Capitol riot. Kelley, along with a co-defendant, was charged with plotting to murder FBI employees in December 2022. He faces trial in both cases and remains in pre-trial custody.
During his trial, evidence was presented that Kelley may have been armed on Jan. 6, with an inside waistband gun holster visible in photos from the attack. The FBI agent testified that a gun holster can be seen in photos of Kelley, even though the handle of the weapon was not clearly visible. Kelley was also witnessed wearing an ammo pack on his left hip and purchasing ammunition and gas masks before the attack.
Kelley was seen at the front of the mob that entered the Capitol, and he later took selfies inside the Senate chamber. Prosecutors highlighted Kelley’s actions and discussions after the attack, including his interest in a Time magazine article about the 2020 election.
The trial included testimony from Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman and other witnesses. Prosecutors argued that Kelley needed to be held accountable for his role in breaching the Capitol, comparing the event to the British redcoats’ attack in 1814. Despite over 1,500 people being charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, prosecutors have secured over 1,100 convictions, with some defendants sentenced to federal prison terms.
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