DOJ: Trump's Jan. 6 Pardons Exclude Kelley’s Murder Plot Conviction

Edward Kelley, a Capitol rioter convicted of plotting to murder FBI agents, is facing a refusal from the Justice Department to dismiss his conviction under the pardons issued by President Trump. Prosecutors argue that Kelley's actions are unrelated to the events of January 6, 2021, as they occurred nearly two years later in Tennessee, where he threatened law enforcement officials and created a 'kill list' of FBI agents. Kelley's defense contends that his case is directly linked to the Capitol events, but the DOJ maintains that the language of the presidential Proclamation does not extend to his separate criminal conduct. Kelley is set to be sentenced in May for his conspiracy to murder charges, following his earlier convictions related to the Capitol attack. The ruling on Kelley's motion to vacate his convictions will be decided by U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan. This case highlights ongoing legal challenges faced by other rioters seeking similar pardons for unrelated charges stemming from their actions on January 6.