Ryan Kelley, a former Republican candidate for Michigan governor, has been sentenced to two months in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper also ordered Kelley to pay a $5,000 fine. Kelley had come fourth in a field of five candidates in the prior year’s Republican gubernatorial primary.
Prosecutors asserted that while Kelley did not engage in violence during the siege, he encouraged other rioters and tore a tarp outside the Capitol building. He pleaded guilty in July to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, which carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment. The prosecution had sought a three-month jail sentence for Kelley.
Judge Cooper remarked that Kelley had misused his position as a public figure by spreading misinformation about election fraud. Reacting to the sentence, Kelley said that he had been misled into believing the election was stolen, but did not fault then-President Donald Trump for the events of Jan. 6.
Kelley, a real estate broker, emphasized his personal responsibility, saying, “He [Trump] did invite us there, but my actions were my actions.” He previously described the riot as “a First Amendment activity” and indicated he was merely exercising his right to protest.
Kelley’s involvement in the riot complicated an already tumultuous Republican primary in Michigan. Despite his legal challenges, there were speculations about his continued political involvement in Michigan. However, following the sentencing, Kelley expressed a desire to distance himself from politics and concentrate on his business and family.
The aftermath of the Capitol riot has seen over 1,100 people charged with related crimes. Around 800 have either pleaded guilty or been convicted, with sentences ranging from a few days to 22 years.