Jan. 6 Rioter Gets Life In Prison For FBI Assassination Plot: What To Know
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A January 6 rioter who was pardoned by President Donald Trump has been sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to kill the FBI agents and other law enforcement officers who investigated his involvement in the riot.
Edward Kelley, 36, was found guilty in November 2024 and sentenced on July 2 for his charges of conspiracy to murder federal employees, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, and influencing a federal official by threat.
Kelley had attempted to argue that his presidential pardon also covered his November conviction, as it was related to January 6, but was unsuccessful.
Edward Kelley pictured at the January 6 riots in images provided by the FBI.
Edward Kelley pictured at the January 6 riots in images provided by the FBI.
FBI
Why It Matters
President Trump's pardons of the January 6 rioters were unpopular among Democrats and some Republican leaders, as they involved some individuals who had violently assaulted police officers.
Kelley is one of several January 6 rioters already back in prison following their pardon following investigations into other crimes or prior convictions, which were not removed by the presidential pardon.
What To Know
The Tennessee native was found guilty of creating a "kill list" of law enforcement officers who had been involved in his arrest.
His partner in the planned attacks, a man named Austin Carter, who also pleaded guilty, told the court they had arranged to attack the agents at public locations such as cinemas and in their own homes.
The prosecution provided audio recordings of Kelley to the court, which show him saying, "You don't have time to train or coordinate, but every hit has to hurt," and "Every hit has to hurt." Another recording showed Kelley saying that he planned to "take out their offices." These recordings were taken by "Witness 1," whom the prosecution relied on for information per court filings.
Carter told the court he and Kelley were planning on staging the attacks with car bombs and drones.
The full list of officers on their "kill list" included employees from the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Maryville Police Department, the Blount County Sheriff's Office, and the Clinton Police Department.
The prosecution described Kelley as "remorseless," saying in his sentencing memorandum: "Edward Kelley is remorseless and has shown neither a capacity nor desire to rehabilitate. On the contrary, Kelley not only believes the actions for which he was convicted were justified but that his duty as a self-styled "patriot" compelled him to target East Tennessee law enforcement for assassination."
Kelley had been charged prior to his pardon with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers; civil disorder, destruction of government property; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; and several other counts related to his actions on January 6.
Images of Edward Kelley at the January 6 riot, as captured by the FBI.
Images of Edward Kelley at the January 6 riot, as captured by the FBI.
FBI
What People Are Saying
Edward Kelley in a recorded call by "Witness 1": "I just sent Austin [Carter] a message, here's your course of action: if I'm extradited to D.C. or you don't hear about my status within 24 or 48 hours of my, if they are coming to arrest me again, start it. You guys are taking them out at their office. What you and Austin [Carter] need to do is recruit as many as you can, call [UI] who you need to, and you're going to attack their office. If the same thing happens to any of you guys, I'm doing the same thing, OK?...Once you guys have enough people...you don't have time to train or coordinate, but every hit has to hurt, every hit has to hurt."
Mark Brown, Kelley's attorney, wrote to the court: "Although Kelley has been convicted of serious offenses, no individual was directly threatened with harm or violence by Kelley, and no one was injured. Kelley does not deserve the same sentence as an actual "terrorist" who injured or killed hundreds or thousands of [American] citizens."
Prosecuting lawyers told the court: "Carter's testimony was unequivocal — he had no doubts that, had he and Kelley not been arrested, the law enforcement personnel included on Kelley's list would have been murdered."
What Happens Next
Kelley's appeal was denied by the court, meaning this is his final verdict. His co-conspirator, Austin Carter, is set to receive his sentence in August
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