Ryan Kelley Sentenced to 60 Days in Prison for Role in U.S. Capitol Attack on January 6, 2021

Ryan Kelley, a former Republican front-runner in the 2022 Michigan governor’s race, was sentenced to 60 days in prison on Tuesday for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The sentencing comes after news broke in May 2022 that five of the 10 candidates who had previously qualified for the Republican primary ballot had handed in thousands of fraudulent signatures. This winnowed down the crowded primary field of candidates, many of whom were running on the backs of election denialism myths and anti-COVID mitigation platforms.

Kelley pleaded guilty in July to a federal misdemeanor of entering and remaining on restricted grounds, down from the four misdemeanor charges he faced upon his arrest a month prior. Prosecutors had pushed U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper to issue a three-month sentence, noting Kelley’s distinct lack of remorse for his actions, including publishing statements on social media making light of the day.

Kelley was filmed shouting, “This is war, baby!” during the attack, and some of the booted candidates have since sued the state of Michigan.

The sentencing of Kelley serves as a reminder of the consequences of participating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. It also highlights the importance of ensuring that candidates for public office are qualified and have obtained the necessary signatures to be on the ballot.