Arrests in plot to kidnap governor over lockdown
Michigan governor target of militia group, FBI says
WASHINGTON • The FBI revealed Thursday that it thwarted a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, unsealing charges against six people who it said contemplated a violent overthrow of the government and conducted firearms training, tested explosives and tactical drills.
Seven other people, associated with the militia group Wolverine Watchmen, were charged by the state.
The plotters, according to an FBI affidavit, seemed to be motivated by their belief that state governments, including Michigan’s, were violating the Constitution.
One of those allegedly involved complained in June that Whitmer, a Democrat, was controlling the opening of gyms — an apparent reference to coronavirus shutdown restrictions.
But unbeknown to them, the FBI had confidential informants recording many of their discussions, according to the affidavit.
At one point, the alleged plotters discussed recruiting a force of 200 to storm the state capitol in Lansing and take hostages, but later abandoned the plan in favour of kidnapping Whitmer at her vacation home, the complaint said.
President Donald Trump has been publicly critical of Michigan’s leaders over the state- imposed measures to stem the spread of coronavirus, tweeting in April, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN.”
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Whitmer accused Trump of encouraging extremist groups like the “sick and depraved men” that targeted her, citing his failure to condemn white supremacists at the recent U. S. presidential debate against Joe Biden as an example.
“When our leaders meet with, encourage and fraternize with domestic terrorists they legitimize their actions, and they are complicit,” Whitmer said.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh Mcenany pushed back at her remarks, saying Trump has condemned all forms of hate.
“Governor Whitmer is sowing division by making these outlandish allegations,” Mcenany said in a statement.
The FBI said in the affidavit that it became aware that people were discussing an overthrow of the government from social media postings early this year, and in June, two of those who would be charged met with more than a dozen others in Ohio to discuss “creating a society that followed the U. S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient.”
In that meeting, the FBI alleged, the group discussed peaceful and violent tactics, and ultimately decided that they needed to increase their numbers, according to the affidavit.
One in the group, Adam Fox, then contacted a local armed group the FBI already had been monitoring with a confidential informant over concern that it was plotting to kill police officers, according to the affidavit.
They and others continued to meet throughout June, including at a Second Amendment rally in Lansing, the affidavit said.
Their plots were as extreme as they were violent. In a June 14 phone call, according to the affidavit, Fox talked of needing “200 men” to storm the Capitol building in Lansing to take hostages, including Whitmer.
He said they would try Whitmer for “treason” before the November 2020 elections.
The group of six facing federal charges — Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta — could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted on charges of attempting to kidnap Whitmer.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel disclosed additional state charges against seven men affiliated with the Wolverine Watchmen for allegedly violating the state’s anti-terrorism act by conspiring to kidnap the governor and propagate violence.