A man from Tennessee, Edward Kelley, who was involved in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, has been found guilty of plotting to murder FBI agents. The U.S. attorney’s office in Knoxville announced that Kelley, 35, was convicted of conspiracy to murder federal employees, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, and influencing a federal official by threat.
Kelley, from Maryville, was arrested along with many others for illegally entering the U.S. Capitol. While awaiting trial, he came up with a plan to kill law enforcement officers, including FBI agents. He now faces a potential life sentence when he is sentenced in May.
Prosecutors revealed that Kelley had created a “kill list” of FBI agents and individuals involved in the investigation. He shared this list, along with videos showing FBI employees, with another person as part of his plan. A witness provided a list of 37 names to a police department in Tennessee, and a cooperating defendant who pleaded guilty in the conspiracy testified about Kelley’s and his plan to attack the FBI’s Knoxville office using car bombs and incendiary devices attached to drones. They also discussed assassinating FBI employees in various locations, such as their homes and movie theaters.
During the trial, evidence showed that Kelley was recorded saying “every hit has to hurt.” This conviction comes at a time when many U.S. Capitol riot defendants are using former President Donald Trump’s election in requests to delay their criminal prosecutions due to his promise to pardon some individuals convicted of crimes on January 6, 2021.
Defense attorneys have filed requests to federal judges in Washington, D.C., asking to postpone proceedings in some of the January 6 cases until 2025 when President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. These requests are creating challenges for the Justice Department in resolving the prosecutions, as many cases are still active, and the transition of power could impact the outcomes.
The events of the January 6 Capitol riot continue to have far-reaching implications, with individuals facing serious consequences for their actions on that day. The case of Edward Kelley serves as a reminder of the severity of the events that unfolded and the legal repercussions that follow such acts of violence.
