Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate arrested in connection with January 6 Capitol breach
Kelley, 40, of Allendale, Michigan, was charged with the following:
- Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority
- Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds
- Knowingly engage in any act of physical violence against person or property in any restricted building or grounds
- Willfully injure or commit any depredation against any property of the United States
On January 16, 2021, an anonymous tipster in Michigan contacted the FBI National Threat Operations Center identifying Kelley at the Capitol attack, according to court documents.
The tipster provided photos, showing that a person identified as Kelley was at the U.S. Capitol wearing a black coat, a backwards black baseball cap with a rectangular U.S. flag emblem above the bill, and aviator sunglasses.
Other tips placed Kelley at the Capitol on January 6, reports said.
Law enforcement reviewed publicly available media to gather a complete record of Kelley’s actions during the breach.
Many photos and videos showed Kelley on the western side of the Capitol, walking up a flight of stairs toward the interior of the Capitol, removing temporary fencing set in place by Capitol personnel for a planned event, and taking video of people assaulting law enforcement, according to court documents.
Investigators positively identified Kelley using photos of him wearing the clothes seen at the Capitol to other events.
The FBI also interviewed three people familiar with Kelley in order to confirm his identity.
Kelley will make his initial appearance on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.