Maryville, TN – A Maryville man previously convicted for his role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection is facing a potential life sentence following a separate conspiracy charge filed while he was awaiting trial for his earlier offenses. Edward Kelley, who was convicted in November 2024 on eleven charges, including felony civil disorder, destruction of government property, and assaulting a Capitol officer, now faces grave legal consequences due to a scheme devised while in prison.
Kelley, one of the more than 1,000 individuals convicted in connection to the Capitol riot, was included in the list of those granted clemency by President Donald Trump in January 2025. The full pardon issued by the President cleared Kelley of his previous charges related to the January 6th attack, which included violent offenses against law enforcement and federal property. The sweeping pardon, which covered a broad range of individuals involved in the Capitol breach, was hailed by Trump as a step toward national reconciliation and the end of what he described as a “grave national injustice.”
Despite receiving the pardon, Kelley remains entangled in the legal system due to actions taken after his initial convictions. According to court records, Kelley and co-conspirator Austin Carter, a Knoxville man, spent two weeks in December 2022 planning the assassination of federal employees and agents involved in investigating the January 6th events. This “kill list” reportedly included plans for violent acts aimed at both public and private spaces, with discussions of using car bombs and incendiary devices.
Carter, who has pleaded guilty to his involvement, admitted to being part of the plot alongside Kelley. Both men are now facing serious federal charges, including conspiracy to murder federal employees, solicitation to commit violence, and influencing a federal official by threat. In late November 2024, Kelley was convicted by a federal jury in the Eastern District of Tennessee on these charges.
Kelley’s sentencing for the conspiracy charges is set for May 7, 2025, and he could face life imprisonment if convicted. Legal experts suggest that the severity of the plot, combined with Kelley’s prior convictions, could result in a harsh sentence. His case illustrates the continued legal and social ramifications stemming from the January 6th attack, with many individuals facing charges well beyond their involvement in the Capitol riot itself.
As Kelley’s case proceeds, attention will remain focused on the broader implications of such conspiracies, and whether this could set a precedent for similar future cases involving individuals still facing legal challenges linked to the events of January 6.
