Article
A Donald Trump Supporter Accused of Plotting to Kill FBI Agents and Storming the US Capitol
A Donald Trump supporter who, federal law enforcement officials, say plotted to kill FBI special agents investigating him on Jan. 6 charges appears to have been armed with a gun when he became the fourth rioter to breach the U.S. Capitol, federal prosecutors said at trial on Tuesday.
Background
Edward Kelley, of Tennessee, is one of just a handful of Jan. 6 suspects who are still being held in pre-trial custody, meaning they haven’t yet been convicted of a crime. Kelley was originally freed pending trial on his Jan. 6 charges but was then re-arrested in an alleged murder plot in December 2022.
New Evidence Revealed
In a procedural hearing, prosecutors presented new evidence that Kelley may have been armed on Jan. 6. If true, he would not be alone. Conservative media figures and Trump himself have said — falsely — that the mob was unarmed. In fact, several rioters were armed with guns, which contributed to their prison sentences, including two rioters at the spear of the mob that breached a police line near the top of the stairs on the west side of the Capitol.
The Gun Allegation
Prosecutors provided strong evidence that Kelley was at least wearing an inside waistband gun holster that is meant to conceal the bottom of a weapon in someone’s pants. FBI Special Agent Jessi Mann demonstrated how the gun holster works during her testimony on Tuesday, using a prop weapon to show how the barrel of the weapon would be concealed inside pants and the handle of the weapon could be covered up with a sweatshirt like the one that Kelley was wearing.
Court Proceedings
Kelley, in a gas mask, at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the FBI. (USDCDC)
Prosecutors presented a number of witnesses in the bench trial, including Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, a Black man who was chased up the stairs near the Senate chamber on Jan. 6 by the overwhelmingly white mob.
Conclusion
The trial of Edward Kelley, a Donald Trump supporter accused of plotting to kill FBI agents and storm the US Capitol, has revealed new evidence that he may have been armed on Jan. 6. The gun allegation is not central to the charges against Kelley, but it raises questions about the extent of the violence and chaos that occurred during the attack. The outcome of the trial is now in the hands of the jury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the nature of the charges against Edward Kelley?
A: Kelley is facing charges related to his conduct on Jan. 6, including civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, and destruction of government property.
Q: What is the significance of the gun allegation?
A: The gun allegation is not central to the charges against Kelley, but it raises questions about the extent of the violence and chaos that occurred during the attack.
Q: Have any other rioters been found to be armed on Jan. 6?
A: Yes, several rioters were armed with guns, which contributed to their prison sentences.
