By GEOFF EARLE   DAILY MAIL

The FBI on Thursday arrested Ryan Kelley, one of five Republican candidates for Michigan governor and charged him with a misdemeanor for his role in the January 6 riot at the Capitol.

Kelley, 40, was arrested in western Michigan and awaits a court hearing in Grand Rapids, FBI spokeswoman Mara Schneider said just hours before the committee investigating the riot were scheduled to hold their first public primetime hearing.

The stunning move comes just hours before the House January 6th committee has scheduled its first prime time hearing in a bid to unveil its first big picture look at the riot and former President Donald Trump's election overturn effort.

There was no immediate comment from Kelley's campaign. Kelley's participation in January 6 has been widely known. The initial tip about his whereabouts came Jan. 16, 2021, according to an FBI special agent's affidavit.

In a court document, federal investigators filed photos of him in a baseball cap worn backward, trying to rally the crowd.

One photo appears to show him walking under scaffolding at the Capitol and up a set of Capitol steps, although the authorities do not claim he entered the building. A crowd of Trump supporters burst through after battling police officers and breaking down barriers. 

There was no immediate comment from Kelley's campaign. Kelley's participation in January 6 has been widely known. The initial tip about his whereabouts came Jan. 16, 2021, according to an FBI special agent's affidavit.

In a court document, federal investigators filed photos of him in a baseball cap worn backward, trying to rally the crowd.

 The bureau was aided by a confidential human source who had been working with the FBI since 2020, the agent said. 

The filings do not say that Kelley entered the building but say he moved onto the Capitol stars and then climbed an 'architectural feature'.