GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After U.S. Congress licensed the presidential election Monday in Washington, D.C., former Michigan gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley mirrored on his race for governor and his half within the Jan. 6 protest of 2021.
“I think we’re going to see something a little bit different this time,” he mentioned in a telephone interview with Information 8. “You know, as far as I know, I don’t believe that there’s going to be any type of protest there or anything like that this time around, but I guess the day is not over and we got to see what’s going to happen.”
The certification occurred Monday with none interruption or any giant protests.
Kelley, who positioned fourth in Michigan’s 2022 gubernatorial main with 15% of the vote, pleaded responsible in July 2023 to a misdemeanor linked to the capital riots. He served 60 days in federal jail.
Lots of of Capitol riot prosecutions are in limbo as a DC court docket awaits Trump’s White Home return
“That day is definitely something that will continue to create divide in our country because of how polarizing it is,” Kelley mentioned. “I was there because you know I saw things happen for the 2020 election that looked suspicious, made me skeptical. I, like many other people, had questions and wanted to have our voices heard. (We wanted) to have Congress take a closer look at things before they certified the election.”
Greater than 1,000 folks have been convicted thus far within the Jan. 6 riot, in response to the feds. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to pardon those that participated within the protest, however it’s unclear if everybody will likely be pardoned or if it is going to be on a case-by-case foundation.
“I’ve already been to all of it, right? It’s all behind me now. So I mean a pardon is welcomed, but you know, pardon doesn’t expunge it off the record so there’s another step there to have it removed off the record … the damage has already been done,” he mentioned.
Former gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley expects Jan. 6 pardon
In the meantime, in Washington D.C. this week, security fences and gates have been erected round elements of Capitol Hill — one thing Kelley mentioned he finds a bit hypocritical.
“The last time I checked, putting a wall at the southern border was a racist thing to do right? According to some people. But it’s OK to put walls up around where the politicians are at? That’s another one of those instances where it’s a little bit of hypocrisy there, if you will,” he mentioned.
Kelley has since moved to Kent County, the place he works as an actual property agent. Nonetheless, he mentioned he continues to obtain calls from folks asking him to run for workplace and is contemplating one other political run.
“I haven’t ruled it out and I don’t know what that looks like. If there’s going to be a run in ‘26? I can tell you that I get phone calls from people all over the state and even out of the state. You know, that whole J6 thing kind of boosted me nationally in a way as well where people recognize me,” he mentioned.
