By Ryan J. Reilly, Pete Williams, and Henry J. Gomez — NBC News
A Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan was arrested by the FBI on Thursday on misdemeanor charges for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on Capitol Hill, the agency said.
Federal agents raided Ryan Kelley’s Allendale, Michigan, home Thursday morning with a search warrant and arrested the conservative politician. Kelley faces four charges related to his alleged actions on Capitol Hill, These included disorderly conduct and intentional injuries or attacks on US property, according to the complaint.
[“Cambiará la historia”. El comité que investiga el ataque al Capitolio se prepara para la primera audiencia pública]
Kelley acknowledged in the past being in Washington DC for protests that preceded deadly riots by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. But she said that he never entered the Capitol.
A statement from an FBI special agent, released by Justice Department officials Thursday, includes and describes video footage and other images indicating that Kelley participated in the break-in at the Capitol and led others to participate.
“At approximately 2:20 p.m., Kelley continued to gesture to the crowd, constantly indicating that they should proceed toward the stairs leading to the entrance to the interior spaces of the United States Capitol,” the agent states.
Kelley’s arrest comes on the day the House committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 riots is holding its first public hearing. And it comes following the disqualification of at least two other major GOP candidates for Michigan governor, including front-runner James Craig, following submitting allegedly fraudulent signatures to run in the August primary.
