FBI agents arrested Republican candidate for Michigan governor, Ryan Kelley, at his home on Thursday morning. He was charged with a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct related to his attendance at the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
A copy of the criminal complaint shows that the FBI received several tips about Kelley’s role in the riot. These complaints include knowingly entering a restricted building or grounds, disruptive conduct on restricted grounds, engaging in acts of physical violence on restricted grounds and willfully injuring any property of the United States.
An FBI agent stated that Kelley was captured on video standing in a crowd of people who were "assaulting and pushing past law enforcement officers" at the Capitol, according to Reuters.
Kelley’s presence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was shared popularly on social media, garnering both support and pushback for his candidacy for Michigan governor. Video footage captured his attempt to excite the crowd on the Capitol steps, as he yelled, “Come on, let's go! This is it! This is, this is war baby!”
Kelley attended a protest at the Michigan Capitol on Oct. 12 and joined the crowd’s demands for a “transparent forensic audit” of the 2020 election.
At the demonstration, he said that the entire 2020 presidential election was invalid and that the entire Michigan election should be redone.
As one of the five remaining Republican candidates for Michigan’s gubernatorial race, his arrest brings forward more uncertainty surrounding the election. Several Republican candidates have previously been blocked from the ballot for submitting too many fraudulent signatures.
Kelley is expected to appear in court later on Thursday.
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