May 8, 2024 - WASHINGTON - A California woman has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to her conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Her alleged actions and the actions 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.
Christina Kelso, 46, of Thermal, California, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of obstruction of an official proceeding and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Kelso is charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
The FBI arrested Kelso today in California, and she is expected to make her initial appearance in the Central District of California.
According to court documents, Kelso was an alleged member of the Telegram group “The California Patriots - DC Brigade,” or “DC Brigade.” The DC Brigade was a group of individuals, primarily based in California, who used the platform “Telegram” to identify themselves, communicate, and coordinate with each other regarding travel to Washington, D.C., and participation in the events of Jan. 6, 2021. The “About” section of the Telegram group stated: “This group will serve as the Comms for able bodied individuals that are going to DC on Jan 6. Many of us have not met before and we are all ready and willing to be engaged in this fight. We will come together for this moment that we are called upon.”
Court documents say Kelso traveled to Washington, D.C., from California and attended the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Ellipse. Later that afternoon, open-source video footage depicts Kelso on the lower portion of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol grounds, near a police line. As police were establishing and holding a police line in this area, Kelso allegedly rushed toward the line. After rushing the police line, an officer pushed her away to get her to retreat; however, Kelso would not retreat and instead advanced on the police line again. Police called for Kelso and others to “back up,” but Kelso responded, “No.”
Court documents say that police again pushed Kelso back and deployed pepper spray to get her to retreat. Kelso did not retreat and moved toward the police line a third time. Police, again, pushed Kelso away from the police line and deployed pepper spray. Once more, Kelso would not retreat and returned again to the police line. The police deployed pepper spray, but Kelso held on to the bike rack against the police line and ultimately crouched down, refusing to move.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington field offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 40 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,424 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
