Leo Christopher Kelly, Obstruction of an official proceeding, District of Columbia 2021

Washington DC – In a shocking turn of events, Leo Christopher Kelly, a 37-year-old man from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach.

According to court documents, Kelly was one of the few rioters who breached the Senate Chamber during the attack on the Capitol. He ascended the Senate Dais, leafed through sensitive documents, and took photos of them.

Kelly’s actions and those of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

On January 6, Kelly joined a large group of people, including his parents, for a rally at the Ellipse. After the rally, Kelly and his parents marched towards the Capitol building. Kelly eventually made his way past the barriers to the West Terrace Courtyard, where rioters had broken into the Senate Wing door and flooded into the building.

Kelly used his phone to capture video of the scene, showing shattered glass windows, rioters, and police officers in riot gear guarding the inside of the Capitol. He entered the Capitol building through the Parliamentarian’s Door at approximately 2:43 p.m. and watched as another rioter used a metal stand to bash in an office door.

Despite the clear indications that they should leave, the rioters charged forward into the police line, pushing the officers all the way back to the end of the hallway. Kelly then approached a large bay window, looked out the window towards the rioters still outside the building, pumped his fist in the air, and smiled.

Kelly was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth to 30 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution and fines. Kelly was found guilty following a trial by jury on May 9, 2023, of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony offense.

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