Christina Kelso faces charges in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. (Photos from court documents)
A self-described “Peace Pilgrim” from California who boasted online that she was at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots and “got pepper sprayed pretty good” faces charges for her actions there, authorities said.
Christina Kelso, 46, of Thermal, California, about 140 miles east of Los Angeles, faces charges of obstruction and trespassing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
The statement of facts alleges Kelso planned her trip to Washington through the Telegram messaging app group, “The California Patriots – DC Brigade,” which coordinated travel to Washington for former President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally.
“Many of us have not met before and we are all ready and willing to be engaged in this fight,” 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. We will come together for this moment that we are called upon.”
She introduced herself to the Telegram group on Jan. 2, 2021, noting she was “Trained in self-defense, Iyengar Yoga, and Modern Buddhism (New Kadampa)” and was “a devout Christian.” Under the section special skills, she allegedly wrote, “knife throwing but also, Peace Pilgrim.”
“I see the light in everyone,” she allegedly added, according to court documents. “I wouldn’t call myself a diplomat but I have the power to diffuse anger … Modern Buddhism AND Christian faith have given me eyes to see. I’m also great at herbalist First Aid. And I was a Girl Scout. ‘Be prepared:’ always. Peace.”
Once at the Capitol, court documents said Kelso was seen on video responding to someone asking her, “If Congress does certify the election of Biden … would you accept that?”
“No, I wouldn’t. I would not accept it,” she said, according to court documents. “But because that’s just fake news, so I don’t think it’s gonna happen because there’s too many of us who know, like, just the depth of the fraud.”
“If we’re gonna die anyway, I’ll die for my freedom, 100%,” she allegedly added before giving her name when asked and later rushed toward a police line, the document said.
She pushed against a police line until she was pepper sprayed and remained clutching to a bike rack, where she crouched and refused to move, court documents said.
The police can be heard in video shouting for her and other rioters to “back up.”
Kelso responded, “No,” the statement of facts said.
Afterward, she discussed her experience from that day in Facebook messages with someone identified in court documents as A.H., a leader of the DC Brigade, court documents said.
“So FBI couldn’t solve the murder of Biggie Smalls but they definitely have the Capitol figured out,” she allegedly said in one message on Jan. 10, 2021, about the possibility of the FBI reaching out to her. “I was on the line. I got pepper sprayed pretty good. I couldn’t see for 20, 30 minutes. But of course I was never violent. Peaceful, pissed off Patriots.”
“Are we thinking inauguration?” she added, court documents said.
The next day, Kelso allegedly wrote to A.H.: “I made some new friends along the way and I’ve half a mind to return later this month.”
“Thank you for the good advice re FBI,” she added, according to the document. “My friend was definitely spooked and it cut short my visit slightly but I’m keen to get home. I did nothing wrong so I’m [n]ot afraid.”
In an interview in March 2021 with the FBI, she told agents she drove to Washington and got pepper sprayed while walking with a crowd at the Capitol, court documents said. She also allegedly said that in the three to four hours she was there, she and everyone she saw were peacefully protesting, court documents said she told agents.
She allegedly told the agents she planned to take part in a “peaceful occupation” of the Capitol she had heard about from podcasts in the days before the insurrection but changed her mind after being pepper sprayed, court documents said.
In the 40 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,420 people have been charged for crimes related to the Capitol breach, authorities said.
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