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Ryan Kelley, ex-candidate for Michigan governor, makes deal over Jan. 6 case

Published  June 22, 2023 3:53pm EDT
Crime and Public Safety
Associated Press

ALLENDALE, Mich. (AP) - A former Republican candidate for Michigan governor who was at the U.S. Capitol during the 2021 riot has reached a plea agreement and will avoid a trial, his attorney said Thursday.

Ryan Kelley was charged with misdemeanors and will resolve the case with a "minor misdemeanor," attorney Gary Springstead told The Detroit News.

Kelley, who lives in Ottawa County, wants to "put this behind him, so he can focus on his family and his successful career as a commercial real estate agent," Springstead said.

Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington scratched a trial in the case and set a court hearing for July 27, online records show.

Republican governor candidate arrested for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Ryan Kelley, a republican running for governor in Michigan, was arrested Thursday for his involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

Kelley, who supported then-President Donald Trump, was charged with disruptive conduct, injuring public property and entering restricted space without permission on Jan. 6, 2021.

Kelley has said he was lawfully protesting the results of the 2020 presidential election and didn’t enter the Capitol building.

His arrest last summer suddenly improved his name recognition in a crowded field of Republican candidates for governor, but Kelley finished fourth in the GOP primary in August.