Jury Finds Jan. 6 Convict Guilty of Conspiring to Kill FBI Agents

A man identified as Edward Kelley inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. US Department of Justice via The Epoch Times

Jurors have convicted Edward Kelley of Tennessee of plotting to kill FBI agents. He was previously convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers on Jan. 6, 2021, during the breach of the U.S. Capitol.

After a trial in federal court in Tennessee, a jury on Nov. 20 convicted Kelley, 35, of conspiring to kill FBI agents, inducing others to murder federal employees, and threatening to assault and murder FBI agents with the intent to interfere with their duties and retaliate against them.

Kelley developed a “kill list” of FBI agents and others who investigated him over his conduct on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, and gave that list to another man along with videos containing images of some of the agents on the list.

The co-conspirator, Austin Carter, previously pleaded guilty. He testified during the trial that Kelley planned to attack the FBI’s office in Knoxville with car bombs and explosives delivered by drones. He also said there were discussions about killing FBI agents in their homes and public places like movie theaters.

“Every hit has to hurt,” Kelley said in a recording that was played during the trial.

Kelley faces up to life in prison. He is slated to receive his sentence on May 7, 2025.

An attorney representing Kelley did not respond to a request for comment. Kelley had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He was convicted on all counts.

Kelley was charged in 2022 with participating in the breach of the Capitol, including assaulting law enforcement officers and destroying government property. A federal judge on Nov. 8, following a bench trial, found him guilty on 11 counts.

Kelley, who faces more than a decade in federal prison, is scheduled to be sentenced in that case on April 7, 2025.

According to court filings, Kelley traveled to Washington from Tennessee and attended a rally held by then-President Donald Trump before walking to the Capitol and becoming involved in an altercation with a U.S. Capitol Police officer outside the building. Kelley later used a piece of wood to break a window at the Capitol and entered the building through the window frame. He kicked a closed door to the Senate wing open and was among those who entered the Senate gallery.

Kelley remained inside the Capitol for about 40 minutes.

Kelley is among the approximately 1,561 people who have been charged in relation to the breach. Trump has said he would pardon some of the Jan. 6 defendants once he takes office.