WASHINGTON: The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley on Thursday over misdemeanour charges stemming from his role in the attack on the US Capitol by throngs of then-president Donald Trump’s supporters on Jan 6 last year, the Justice Department said.

Kelley, 40, of Allendale, is one of five Republicans in the state competing to take on Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer this coming fall. He currently serves as an appointed planning commissioner in Allendale.

His arrest came on the same day that the Democratic-led House of Representatives select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol plans to hold its first of several hearings to present the evidence it has amassed about the riot and the events leading up to it.

According to a sworn statement by an FBI agent, Kelley was captured on video standing in a crowd of people who were “assaulting and pushing past law enforcement officers” at the Capitol.

Other images also show that Kelley was climbing on an architectural feature near the northwest stairs of the building, the statement said. He then can be seen in video footage waving his hand to encourage the crowd to move toward the stairs.

Kelley’s presence at the Capitol that day was first identified by a caller on the FBI’s tip line, as well as a confidential human source who has worked with the bureau since 2020 to provide information about domestic terrorism groups in Michigan, the statement said.

The FBI sworn statement said that investigators were able to also compare photos of Kelley at other events in which he wore similar attire, including the American Patriot Council “Judgeent Day” rally in May 2020, among others.

Published in Dawn,June 10th, 2022