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Edward Kelley, a convicted Jan. 6 rioter who orchestrated a plot to murder FBI agents, was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday, following a federal judge’s ruling that President Donald Trump’s pardon did not apply to his post-insurrection conspiracy to assassinate law enforcement officers.
Kelley, who was found guilty in November of conspiracy to murder U.S. officials, soliciting violence, and retaliating against federal authorities, received the maximum sentence from U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan in a Knoxville courtroom.
Prosecutors had described Kelley, 34, as a “remorseless” domestic extremist who posed an ongoing threat to law enforcement. In their sentencing memorandum, they wrote that Kelley had formed a self-styled militia, conducted combat drills, devised a “kill list” of FBI agents, and plotted to bomb the FBI’s Knoxville field office.
“Kelley not only believes the actions for which he was convicted were justified but that his duty as a self-styled ‘patriot’ compelled him to target East Tennessee law enforcement for assassination,” federal prosecutors wrote.
The case marked a significant legal test of the scope of Trump’s sweeping Jan. 6 pardons, which covered approximately 1,500 individuals. Kelley’s legal team argued that his presidential pardon shielded him from prosecution for the murder plot, since it stemmed from the same investigation into his actions at the Capitol.
However, Judge Varlan sided with the Justice Department, which maintained that the pardon only applied to non-violent offenses connected to the Capitol riot, not to subsequent violent conspiracies. The judge ruled that the murder plot constituted an entirely new and separate crime, thereby allowing the prosecution to proceed.
Kelley’s Plan to Attack the FBI
According to court documents, Kelley began hatching his plan shortly after learning he was under investigation for his role in the Capitol attack. He allegedly recruited co-conspirator Austin Carter, stockpiled weapons, and identified key FBI personnel and locations as targets.
Prosecutors said Kelley issued the go-ahead command — “Start it” — to Carter and others, saying, “Every hit has to hurt.”
Kelley’s defense attorney argued in court that no agents were injured and no direct threats were made by Kelley himself, insisting the case did not rise to the level of acts of terrorism.
“Kelley does not deserve the same sentence as an actual terrorist who injured or killed hundreds or thousands of Americans,” his lawyer wrote.
The judge rejected that argument, citing the premeditated nature of the plot and the danger it posed to federal and local law enforcement.
Co-Conspirator Awaits Sentencing
Kelley’s co-defendant, Austin Carter, who pleaded guilty to his role in the plot, is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Prosecutors are expected to request a significant sentence, though potentially less than life, given Carter’s cooperation.
Broader Implications
The case is likely to become a touchstone in the ongoing debate about political pardons, domestic extremism, and the boundaries of executive clemency. While Trump’s blanket pardon of many Jan. 6 participants has been criticized, this case clarifies that future violent acts — even if inspired by or related to Jan. 6 — do not receive automatic immunity.
Kelley’s life sentence also underscores the Justice Department’s continued efforts to prosecute individuals involved in post-insurrection violence, particularly those who have targeted government agencies and personnel.
The ruling serves as a warning to other would-be extremists that planning or attempting violence against federal officials remains a prosecutable and serious offense — regardless of past political favors.
