Getting Caught Up in the Moment May Cost Him His Freedom

This is the story of Leo Kelly, the Cedar Rapids man who is facing several serious charges following his participation at the Washington DC insurrection on January 6.

Kelly told his story in a video interview to Life Site News just hours after that day's tragic events unfolded.

In the interview Kelly said he attended the rally by himself and estimated that he spent up to an hour inside the Capitol taking photos and videos while walking around.

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Once inside the Capitol he told Life Site News that he said a prayer. He later admitted that he also felt "conflicted" about being there.

"Perhaps I did something wrong… I tried to be as respectful as I could while I was in there."

According to Iowa's News Now it was that video interview with Life Site News that led authorities to charge Kelly for his actions that day.

He was arrested January 8 and taken to Linn County Jail where he made his first court appearance the following day at the Northern District of Iowa Court in Cedar Rapids.

Iowa's News Now reports that Kelly is charged on several counts including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, violent entry with intent to disrupt the orderly conduct of official business, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Kelly told the Gazette in a January 11 interview that he did not believe that he was part of a violent mob.

“That is not who I am,” he said. “I wasn’t armed. I didn’t intend to destroy anything and I didn’t destroy anything.”

Leo Kelly is an articulate man, thoughtful and measured in his responses. During the Life Site News interview, he gives a sincere and honest assessment of why he did what he did.

"You violate someone else's space, you force your way into a building. In some ways that really feels wrong" he said. "Maybe we shouldn't have done that."

It's obvious that Kelly has strong faith and beliefs. He acknowledges his feelings of frustration with the status quo. But getting caught up in the moment may cost him his freedom. He has said he will accept the consequences of his actions that day.

Hopefully the courts will recognize that not all those who entered the Capitol that day did so with malicious intent. Those individuals should each be judged accordingly and fairly.

Sources: Iowa's News Now, Life Site News, Life Site News Interview