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FBI Raids Home, Arrests Another Republican Contender For Michigan

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


The campaign for the Republican nomination to challenge Michigan Gov, Gretchen Whitmer has been insane and it just got more insane.

On Thursday, the FBI raided the home of Ryan Kelley, a Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate, and reportedly took him into custody, Bridge Michigan reported.

A criminal complaint filed in Washington D.C. federal court shows Kelley is facing multiple charges for his role in protests at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building to try to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s win.

The FBI executed both a search warrant and arrest warrant at Kelley’s home in Allendale Township in western Michigan and arrested Kelley, spokesperson Mara Schneider told Bridge Michigan.

Video reviewed by Bridge Michigan appeared to show FBI agents leading Kelley into a gray SUV with them shortly before 9:30 a.m.

He has been charged with “Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, Knowingly engaging in any act of physical violence against person or property in any restricted building or grounds and Willfully injuring or committing any depredation against any property of the United States.

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One of his Republican opponents, Kevin Rinke, offered his support for Kelly on Twitter.

“I respect Ryan Kelley and have met him out on the trail. My hope is that the FBI is acting appropriately because the timing here raises serious questions. Praying for him and his family,” he said.

The Michigan Supreme Court has weighed in on the case of three Republican contenders for governor being removed from the ballot.

The Republicans, one of whom was considered a top contender, will not appear on the August primary ballot, The Detroit News reported.

The court sided with the state Bureau of Elections in saying that there were too many forged signatures on the petitions to get the candidates on the ballot.

The 6-1 decisions by the state’s highest court mean that former Detroit police Chief James Craig, whom many viewed as the front runner for the GOP nomination, and businessman Perry Johnson, who poured millions of dollars into his campaign, are out of the race.

The decisions from the Supreme Court came as the Bureau of Elections on Friday sent out the official candidate list to local clerks, setting in motion the process of formatting and printing ballots for the Aug. 2 primary. The gubernatorial candidate list included only those candidates who were certified by the Board of State Canvassers last week, said Tracy Wimmer, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office.

For Craig, the Supreme Court’s decisive ruling was a stunning end to his campaign for the state’s highest office.

Before Friday, the state had never seen someone lead a gubernatorial primary race for a year and then never make the ballot, Michigan political consultant John Sellek said of Craig.

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The Michigan Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected a bid and unanimously ruled against businessman Perry Johnson, then later the same day denied a motion to step in  from businessman Michael Markey and finally denied an appeal from former Detroit police chief James Craig, who was considered a top contender, The Washington Post reported.

The three Republicans vowed to continue the fight to the Michigan Supreme Court.

“The voters should be deciding who their candidates are, not an unelected board of government bureaucrats,” Craig said. “Rest assured, we will be appealing this questionable decision to a higher court. Our fight is not over.”

Last week the Michigan Board of Elections ruled that the two most popular Republicans for the job are not eligible to be on the ballot, Fox News reported.

Republicans seem to have lost two of their most serious contenders for the gubernatorial election in Michigan. Chief James Craig of the Detroit Police Department and businessman Perry Johnson – two of the most prominent Republicans running against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – both failed to produce the valid signatures necessary to get on the ballot.