An Exposé on John Anthony Castro’s Latest Appeal and the Shadows Behind His Conviction
“I thought I was going to die and feared for my life”. Former GOP Presidential Candidate, John Castro experienced a chilling twist of fate. He found himself locked in a federal cell with Jeffrey McKellop, a Trump Supporter. McKellop is a January 6 rioter and former Green Beret from Virginia. Castro alleges that the intent behind this placement was far from accidental. According to him, there was a nefarious plan in motion: McKellop was to take him out. But what unfolded was not an assassination—it was an unlikely alliance.
McKellop, captivated by Castro’s story, found empathy where enmity was expected. The two formed a bond, one born in the crucible of confinement. Castro claims that McKellop was once a tool of political vengeance. He was moved by conscience. Donald Trump eventually pardoned him himself.
But Castro’s legal troubles didn’t end behind bars.
He asserts that he was blindsided during his trial—cornered into a conviction through manipulation and legal sleight-of-hand. One of the government’s key witnesses, Linda Rivera, allegedly provided false testimony, manipulated by undisclosed forces. Even more disturbing, Castro claims that federal attorneys were aware of the deception and chose silence over justice.
In a move to reclaim his narrative, Castro filed a motion on Monday May 12, 2025, to strike Rivera’s testimony. This action forms the basis of his appeal as he seeks to overturn what he calls a wrongful conviction.
In response to the unfolding legal drama, we have published a detailed Book and Op-Ed, to tell Castro’s story. There is also a companion article chronicling Castro’s full motion. It is available in The Neoliberal Journals (see link in reference below). It has been sent to be published in The Jamaica Gleaner and The Jacobin Magazine. It highlights his harrowing experiences and the questions it raises about the integrity of the justice system itself.
This is not merely a legal battle—it is a political epic. And history, as it often does, is watching.
Full Motion:
Written By
Rev. Renaldo C. McKenzie, Author of Neoliberalism