Background

Edward Kelley is a Tennessee man who was among the first to breach the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. He was found guilty on several federal charges related to the insurrection and was later pardoned by President Trump. According to CREW and federal prosecutors, he was subsequently convicted of conspiring to murder the FBI agents who investigated his January 6 case.

The Case

Kelley was one of the first insurrectionists to enter the Capitol and was convicted of assaulting law enforcement and other charges in connection with January 6. The attack disrupted the certification of the presidential election, injured law enforcement officers, and undermined public trust in the peaceful transfer of power.

After his pardon, Kelley was convicted in federal court of conspiring to murder the FBI employees who had investigated his January 6 case. A federal jury convicted him on those charges; according to reporting, he faced a potential life sentence with sentencing scheduled for July 2025. His conduct illustrates the serious public safety threats that can arise when insurrectionists who targeted the Capitol and law enforcement are granted clemency without traditional supervision.

The Pardon

On January 20, 2025, President Trump granted Kelley a full pardon under a proclamation covering certain offenses relating to the events at or near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Sources

• President Trump's Proclamation Granting Pardons and Commutations for Jan. 6 Offenses (DOJ)
• Tennessee man convicted of assaulting law enforcement and other charges (DOJ USAO-DC)
• Federal jury convicts man of conspiring to murder FBI employees (DOJ OPA)
• Edward Kelley still faces life sentence (WBIR, 2025)
• At least 33 pardoned insurrectionists face other criminal charges (CREW, Dec 2025)
• At least 10 pardoned insurrectionists face other criminal charges (CREW, June 2025)