In a troubling development, Edward Kelley, a Tennessee man already convicted for his role in the deadly January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, has been found guilty a second time—this time for plotting to kill the FBI agents who investigated his involvement in the riot.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the 35-year-old anti-abortion activist from Maryville, Tennessee, developed a chilling “kill list” targeting the federal officials who had probed his actions during the Capitol insurrection. In recorded remarks, Kelley ominously declared, “Every hit has to hurt. Every hit has to hurt.”
A Sinister Assassination Scheme
The details of Kelley’s vengeful plot are nothing short of alarming. A cooperating defendant, who had previously pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy, testified that he and Kelley had planned to attack the FBI’s Knoxville field office using:
- Car bombs
- Incendiary devices attached to drones
The co-conspirator also revealed that the two had strategized about assassinating FBI employees at their homes and in public places, such as movie theaters. Kelley even went so far as to create videos featuring images of specific FBI personnel he had identified on his “kill list.”
Swift Justice
In a testament to the severity of his crimes, it took a Tennessee jury a mere hour to unanimously convict Kelley on charges of:
- Conspiracy to murder federal employees
- Solicitation to commit a crime of violence
- Influencing a federal official by threat
This conviction comes on the heels of Kelley’s earlier guilty verdict earlier this month, which found him responsible for assaulting law enforcement, civil disorder, and destruction of government property during the January 6 riot. He had been the fourth rioter to breach the Capitol that day, reportedly carrying a gun.
FBI Director Condemns Violent Threats
“While awaiting trial for committing violent acts, Edward Kelley planned and conspired to attack our employees at work and at home for carrying out their duties. The FBI will never tolerate violent threats against our workforce or any of our colleagues in law enforcement and will continue our work to ensure they are held accountable.”
– FBI Director Christopher Wray
The FBI director’s stern words underscore the gravity of Kelley’s offenses and the Bureau’s commitment to protecting its agents from retaliatory violence.
The Shadow of January 6 Lingers
Kelley’s case serves as a sobering reminder that the fallout from the January 6 Capitol riot is far from over. With nearly 1,500 individuals charged and more than 1,100 convicted for their roles in the attack, the repercussions continue to reverberate through the American justice system.
Former President Donald Trump, who had urged his supporters to “fight like hell” before the riot, has repeatedly vowed to pardon those convicted if he regains the presidency. He has described the rioters as “warriors,” “unbelievable patriots,” and “hostages.”
As the nation grapples with the enduring consequences of that dark day, cases like Edward Kelley’s underscore the depth of the challenge facing law enforcement and the courts. The specter of January 6 seems likely to haunt the American psyche for years to come, even as justice is meted out to those responsible for the violence and chaos.
A Reckoning Yet to Come
As Kelley awaits sentencing for his litany of crimes—both during the Capitol riot and in its aftermath—the nation watches and waits. Will the punishments handed down to the January 6 offenders serve as a sufficient deterrent to future acts of domestic terrorism? Or will the deep divisions and simmering resentments laid bare by the insurrection continue to fester, spurring further violence and retribution?
Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the reverberations of January 6, 2021, will continue to shape American politics, justice, and society for generations to come. And cases like Edward Kelley’s will stand as a stark testament to the depths of the rage and extremism unleashed on that fateful day.
