Military veteran receives life sentence for planning attack on FBI following January 6 arrest.
A former Marine was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison for plotting to bomb an FBI office and engage in the murder of federal agents. Edward Kelley, 36, was convicted in November on multiple charges associated with his elaborate scheme to retaliate against law enforcement following his involvement in the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol. The incident occurred as Congress sought to certify the election results that led to Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump.
Kelley gained notoriety as one of the individuals who forcibly entered the Capitol building during the upheaval that engulfed the nation. After his arrest related to his actions on January 6, he developed a list of 36 law enforcement officers he targeted for assassination. These officers were directly involved in his initial detention and the subsequent FBI search of his residence in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Despite his previous conviction in relation to the Capitol riot, Kelley was briefly pardoned by then-President Trump, who granted clemency to all individuals associated with the Capitol events shortly after taking office. However, U.S. Department of Justice officials asserted that the pardon did not encompass Kelley’s plot against federal agents, allowing prosecutors to pursue charges related to the assassination scheme.
Court documents revealed that Kelley, alongside an accomplice, Austin Carter, had devised a method for carrying out the murders using improvised explosives concealed within vehicles and drones. Carter, who later cooperated with authorities, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and provided testimony against Kelley. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 4, 2025.
Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of Carter’s testimony, stating that there was no doubt Kelley intended to carry out the attacks if their plans had not been thwarted by law enforcement. This case serves as a point of reflection on the continuing repercussions of the January 6 insurrection, underscoring the dangerous sentiments that emerged in its wake.
The conviction and sentencing of Kelley mark a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the Capitol riot, illuminating the extreme behaviors exhibited by some individuals motivated by political ideologies. As the legal ramifications continue to unfold for those involved in the January 6 events, the case exemplifies the challenges faced by authorities in navigating the intersection of political dissent and acts of violence.
Media News Source
