Ryan Kelley

2022 - 6 - 9

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Image courtesy of "Bridge Michigan"

FBI searches home of Ryan Kelley, GOP candidate for Michigan ... (Bridge Michigan)

LANSING — The FBI raided the home of Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley on Thursday morning. The FBI executed both a search warrant and ...

- In other footage, Kelley was shown "using his hands to support another rioter who is pulling the metal barricade onto the scaffolding." It's not clear why it took the FBI so long to charge Kelley after beginning to receive tips in early 2021. But nearly half of all Republicans, 49 percent, are still undecided, according to the poll. We report because the news impacts all of us. - Another image appears to show Kelley climbing near scaffolding. In 2020, Kelley said he asked the U.S. Department of Justice to arrest Whitmer and other Democratic officials for enacting a stay-home order and other COVID-19 response regulations. - At 2:20 p.m., Kelley continued to "gesture to the crowd, consistently indicating that they should move toward the stairs that led to the entrance of the U.S. Capitol interior spaces." This is, this is war baby!" After "causing" Capitol police to retreat, the crowd climbed the stairs toward an interior entrance, and Kelley "began to climb onto an architectural feature next to those stairs" - On Jan. 19, FBI personnel identified Kelley in video showing a crowd of people "assaulting and pushing past law enforcement officers" outside the U.S. Capitol (the affidavit does not specify Kelley’s actions, just the “crowd” as a whole) The FBI executed both a search warrant and arrest warrant at Kelley's home in Allendale Township in western Michigan and arrested Kelley, spokesperson Mara Schneider told Bridge Michigan. Kelley is expected to appear before a judge later Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in Grand Rapids. This is it!

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Image courtesy of "Detroit Free Press"

FBI arrests Michigan gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley during ... (Detroit Free Press)

Ryan Kelley, one of five GOP candidates for Michigan governor, faces misdemeanor charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Kelley also drew ire from residents for his defense of a controversial statue in the township’s Garden of Honor depicting a Confederate soldier as part of its Civil War memorial. Kelley's involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot had prompted some Allendale residents to call for his removal during township board meetings in Jan. 2021. Kelley also "climbed onto and stood on an architectural feature next to the North West stairs and indicated by waving his hand that the crowd behind him should move towards the stairs" leading into the building, the affidavit said. This is — this is war, baby!" In June 2021, the Michigan Democratic Party shared a video of Kelley outside the Capitol on Jan. 6 of that year. In an affidavit related to Thursday's complaint, an agent said Kelley was seen on video "wearing a black hat and a black coat ... in a crowd of people who are assaulting and pushing past law enforcement officers."

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley charged for ... (ABC News)

Ryan Kelley, a Republican candidate in the Michigan gubernatorial primary, was arrested at his home for being involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

In February 2021, Kelley was interviewed by a local TV channel and was asked about being at the Capitol on Jan. 6. "[Their] callous disregard for the principles of democracy was on full display again today. We're going to stand and fight for America, for Donald Trump. We're not going to let the Democrats steal this election"." Kelley advanced into the scaffolding after officers were forced to retreat, the court papers state, and eventually climbed atop an architectural feature on the northwest stairs and waved toward the crowd to move in his direction. Instead, he is charged with being on restricted grounds, engaging in disorderly conduct and other misdemeanors. A law enforcement official said he was arrested at his home.

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

FBI Arrests Michigan GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Ryan Kelley On ... (Forbes)

The FBI carried out a search and arrest warrant at Kelley's home on Thursday morning, according to multiple outlets.

Kelley pulled a covering off of a structure Capitol personnel had installed for a future event, and in another incident, supported another rioter who was pulling a metal barricade onto the scaffolding, according to the complaint. FBI agents—who analyzed photos and video footage from various sources, including media outlets—said Kelley, who was wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap, climbed onto an “architectural feature” next to the Capitol steps and encouraged a crowd of rioters to move up the stairs toward the building. Last January, FBI agents received a tip containing the same video footage of Kelley at the insurrection shared by the Michigan Democratic Party, according to court documents.

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Image courtesy of "The Detroit News"

Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate Kelley arrested on Jan. 6 riot ... (The Detroit News)

FBI agents arrested Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley on Thursday and searched his home near Grand Rapids.

Three other witnesses helped FBI agents confirm the man shown in photos and videos of the riot was Kelley, who also has served as an Allendale Township Planning Commission member. Kelley's wife and children left the home with backpacks in hand and got into a family van moments after Kelley was taken into custody, Niewiadomski said. Craig also has said he’d consider a write-in campaign. This is– this is war, baby!” as he moved toward the Capitol building. And he’s here now,” DeMarco said. And they arrested him. In October, he attended another American Patriot Council event in Allendale. Again, Kelley wore similar clothing. "He gave a speech while wearing a name tag and stated ‘Covid-19 was made so that they can use the propaganda to control your minds so that you think, if you watch the media, that Joe Biden won this election,’” the court filing continues. “'We’re not going to buy it. Niewiadomski said she can’t personally stand Kelley as a politician. This is it! Prosecutors filed four charges against Kelley, 40.

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Image courtesy of "Fox News"

FBI arrests Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan ... (Fox News)

FBI agents executed search and arrest warrants at the home of Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley, though charges have not been ...

The affidavit notes that Kelley wore similar attire at a November 2020 rally at the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan, where he delivered a speech. "We’re going to stand and fight for America, for Donald Trump. We’re not going to let the Democrats steal this election." We’re not going to buy it," he said, according to the affidavit. The affidavit says Kelley uses his phone to film the crowd assaulting and pushing past U.S. Capitol police officers and rushing up through the scaffolding and up the steps to the Capitol. The man believed to be Kelley is seen on top of the scaffolding waving for the crowd to head toward the building. Kelley is charged 17 months after the Jan. 6 riot and on the same day the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is to hold a primetime hearing Thursday to present never-seen video, new audio and a mass of evidence following a year-long investigation by the select panel. He was arrested in Allendale and is to make his initial appearance Thursday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Because this is a pending case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has no further comment at this time, Schneider added.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Ryan Kelley: FBI arrests Michigan Republican gubernatorial ... (CNN)

A GOP Michigan gubernatorial candidate, Ryan Kelley, was arrested Thursday on misdemeanor charges related to his involvement in the Capitol riot on January ...

The court's unanimous decisions marked a major setback for the affected candidates, including former Detroit Police chief James Craig, who have filed legal challenges in an effort to revive their campaigns. Kelley's arrest adds another twist to an already chaotic Republican primary fight. "Ryan Kelley, 40, of Allendale, Michigan, was arrested this morning on misdemeanor charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol breach. The gubernatorial candidate added that he "guarded a Civil War Statue in his hometown of Allendale" during protests in the summer of 2020. He was arrested in Allendale. Mr. Kelley is to make his initial appearance this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan," said Bill Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in the District of Columbia. He said he led rallies against the Covid restrictions at the state capital in Lansing and in Grand Rapids.

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

Michigan candidate for governor, Ryan Kelley, arrested by FBI for ... (NPR)

Ryan Kelley faces charges Thursday related to the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021. He's one of a few remaining candidates running for governor in Michigan ...

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Michigan Governor Candidate Ryan Kelley, Who Was at the Capitol ... (The New York Times)

Mr. Kelley faces several misdemeanor charges, including disorderly conduct, in connection with the attack on the Capitol.

In June that year, he called together about 50 militiamen to square off against a few dozen Black Lives Matter protesters over a statue of a Confederate soldier in his town. All four charges are misdemeanors, according to a spokesman for the United States attorney’s office in the District of Columbia. Efforts to reach Mr. Kelley and his campaign were unsuccessful. The arrest comes ahead of the Republican primary on Aug. 2, in which Mr. Kelley is competing with four other candidates for the chance to face Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, in the general election this fall. Mr. Kelley is the first person running for election in a major state or federal race to be charged in connection with the attack. Ryan Kelley, a Republican running for governor in Michigan who was at the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack, was arrested at his home in Allendale, Mich., on Thursday morning, according to Mara R. Schneider, a special agent with the F.B.I.

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

Michigan gubernatorial candidate arrested on Jan. 6 Capitol riot ... (The Washington Post)

An outspoken Trump supporter who has focused his campaign on false claims of election fraud, Kelley allegedly waved on the mob headed into Capitol and tore ...

A real estate agent, Kelley made a name for himself in politics in 2020 as an outspoken critic of Whitmer’s decision to lock down the state to prevent the spread of covid-19. Two of the men charged in the plot were acquitted at trial; the jury deadlocked on charges against the other two. Five people died on that day or in the immediate aftermath, and 140 police officers were assaulted. Congressional hearings: The House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol has conducted more than 1,000 interviews over the last year. Charges: Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants have been charged with seditious conspiracy, joining Oathkeepers leader Stewart Rhodes and about two dozen associates in being indicted for their participation in the Capitol attack. Charging papers allege that Kelley waved a crowd up the stairway, and supported another rioter who pulled a metal barricade onto scaffolding that was holding up the stage for President Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration. “When asked how he will compromise with the opposition, what was Ryan D. Kelley’s response? Kelley is the latest of more than half dozen Republican officeholders, candidate, or local party leaders to be charged in the Capitol breach, with several pleading guilty or being convicted at trial. “There are so many questions here that we need to get rid of these machines,” Kelley said. Kelley has denied entering the Capitol building itself. Five people died in the attack or its immediate aftermath. His home in Allendale, Mich., was searched by the FBI on Thursday morning.

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Image courtesy of "WBFO"

Michigan candidate for governor, Ryan Kelley, arrested by FBI for ... (WBFO)

Thurs., the FBI arrested Ryan Kelley for charges related to the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021. He's one of a few candidates running for governor in ...

Kelley is a Republican candidate for governor who will appear on the August statewide primary ballot. The evidence includes photos and videos of the insurrection that were posted online. He answered "understood" to most of the judge's questions regarding his rights and responsibilities.

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Image courtesy of "mlive.com"

Gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley arrested by FBI, home searched (mlive.com)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley was arrested and his Allendale home searched by FBI agents Thursday morning, multiple media outlets have ...

Kelley assisted other rioters who were tearing down barricades, the charging document filed in federal court alleges, with screenshots from videos to corroborate their descriptions. FBI Began Investigating Ryan Kelley Just Days After U.S. Capitol Riot “It will live on in history, absolutely. If convicted, Kelley could face up to four years in federal prison. “Once things started getting crazy, I left.” Update: FBI began investigating Ryan Kelley just days after U.S. Capitol riot

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Ryan Kelley: FBI arrests Michigan gubernatorial candidate on 6 ... (BBC News)

Ryan Kelley, a Republican candidate for governor of Michigan, faces four misdemeanour charges.

According to the investigation, a man the FBI identifies as Mr Kelley is seen at points throughout the day. All four tipsters provided photos of a man who appeared to be Mr Kelley at the Capitol that day. "Kelley has publicly confirmed his presence in Washington DC on January 6, and has made it very clear that he did not engage in any illegal activity, nor did he enter the Capitol building," the statement said.

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Image courtesy of "WBFO"

Michigan candidate for governor, Ryan Kelley, charged for Jan. 6 ... (WBFO)

On Thursday, Ryan Kelley was charged with four misdemeanors related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He's one of five candidates on the ...

Kelley is a Republican candidate for governor who will appear on the August statewide primary ballot. The evidence includes photos and videos of the insurrection that were posted online. He answered "understood" to most of the judge's questions regarding his rights and responsibilities.

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Image courtesy of "mlive.com"

Ryan Kelley declared 'political prisoner' in his campaign's Facebook ... (mlive.com)

Some of Ryan Kelley's opponents for governor have put out statements in support, in light of his arrest.

“Tudor Dixon, Garrett Soldano, Kevin Rinke, and Ralph Rebandt have equally shouldered the same baseless lies about 2020 that spurred Ryan Kelley to storm the capital in search of war,” Barnes said in a statement. “Democrats are out in force weaponizing our justice system and targeting their political opponents.” “I am praying for Ryan and his family.” Praying for him and his family.” “We are not a third world nation. “I respect Ryan Kelley and have met him out on the trail,” Rinke said.

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Image courtesy of "mlive.com"

Supporters rally at courthouse as Ryan Kelley faces charges related ... (mlive.com)

Michigan GOP candidate for governor Ryan Kelley faces up to four years in federal prison for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. ...

She wore a Ryan Kelley shirt and hat, and teared up while listing all the reasons why he has earned her support. A small group pointed and laughed at a Gerald R. Ford quote along the wall that read “Our constitution works. Rather, they said, their attendance was to acknowledge the fundamental stripping of American liberties and constitutional rights. Some called Kelley “a political prisoner” and indicated his arrest was politically motivated based on his popularity among the Republican gubernatorial candidates. She recalled meeting him at a “politics and pancakes” event in Milford a year ago, and has since helped collect signatures, knock on doors and raise awareness about his campaign for governor. The FBI started investigating Kelley just days after the riot, and outlined their case with photos and video stills in a 16-page court document. “Why now? People need to wake up.” They would have come out for any Republican candidate in the same situation. No, he was just there.” A criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Thursday alleges Kelley climbed the steps of the U.S. Capitol and helped rioters tear down barricades during the insurrection. He was leading GOP candidates in the latest poll, following the disqualification of candidates James Craig and Perry Johnson.

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Image courtesy of "West Virginia Public Broadcasting"

Michigan candidate for governor, Ryan Kelley, charged for Jan. 6 ... (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

On Thursday, Ryan Kelley was charged with four misdemeanors related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He's one of five candidates on the ...

Kelley is a Republican candidate for governor who will appear on the August statewide primary ballot. The evidence includes photos and videos of the insurrection that were posted online. He answered "understood" to most of the judge's questions regarding his rights and responsibilities.

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Image courtesy of "Detroit Free Press"

Federal criminal charges could help Ryan Kelley's GOP campaign ... (Detroit Free Press)

There is no doubt the charges against Ryan Kelley elevate his low name recognition? Could they also improve his chances of getting endorsed by Trump?

Trump has said that those charged in the violent storming of the Capitol are being treated unfairly. Most political analysts agree that a Trump endorsement could be decisive in the Aug. 2 Republican primary. "I'm running for governor, too," Kelley could be heard saying. This is about our freedom." "This is about our country. Part of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says no person who has taken an oath to support the Constitution and then "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" shall hold any federal or state office. Dixon is seen as having momentum due to recent endorsements from the influential and wealthy DeVos family and from Right to Life of Michigan. Rinke is a millionaire who can self-fund his campaign, and Soldano has strong support from the grassroots. In fact, when a handful of Republican candidates for Michigan governor showed up at a March Mar-a-Lago fundraiser for Republican Attorney General candidate Matthew DePerno, Kelley appeared to have trouble gaining access to the stage, after Trump invited fellow candidates Johnson and Rebandt to step up, based on a video from the event shared on social media. Kelley was released from custody after his court appearance in Grand Rapids on Thursday, but not before many of his supporters gathered outside the courthouse and his gubernatorial Facebook page was updated with the words, "political prisoner." Trump has also said that if he runs for president again in 2024 and wins, he will ensure those defendants are treated fairly, and that could include the issuance of presidential pardons. In addition to raising his profile in a race where none of the candidates are household names, Kelley, as a result of being charged by a U.S. Justice Department under Democratic President Joe Biden, could also improve his chances of receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, Bitely said. At least one political strategist with strong GOP ties thinks Ryan Kelley — one of five remaining GOP candidates for governor — could well see his political fortunes improve as a result of four misdemeanor charges brought against him Thursday in connection with his involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

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Image courtesy of "Michigan Radio"

Federal charges against candidate Ryan Kelley add more turmoil to ... (Michigan Radio)

Detroit Free Press state government reporter Paul Egan joined Michigan Radio's Doug Tribou to talk about the latest shake up in the Republican race for ...

Voters that no longer live in the districts, and voters that Bureau of Election staff determined were basically forged by signature collectors. He is one of several candidates who basically got into this over Governor Gretchen Whitmer's [executive] orders, especially early during the pandemic where businesses were shut down, schools were closed, a number of other restrictions were placed on activity. And, lo and behold, many of them turn in nominating petitions with the names of dead voters on them. PE: Well, he didn't say anything [Thursday.] He appeared in federal court in Grand Rapids and was released after they set the next court date. The first one relates to being in a restricted building or grounds, which could be significant because they really haven't cited yet any photographic evidence of him inside the Capitol building. [Also,] disorderly and disruptive conduct, knowingly engaging in an act of physical violence against a person or property.

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Image courtesy of "Axios"

FBI arrests Ryan Kelley over Jan. 6 charge (Axios)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley was arrested by FBI agents yesterday following a search of his Allendale home. Driving the news: Kelley is ...

- One video provided as evidence shows Kelley in a crowd of people assaulting and pushing past law enforcement officers outside of the Capitol. Details: Kelley was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority during the riot, as well as disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, court documents show. Driving the news: Kelley is facing misdemeanor charges stemming from the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a spokesperson for the U.S. District Court said in a statement.

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