FBI arrests 13 for ‘plotting to kidnap state governor’

THIRTEEN people have been arrested on charges of plotting to kidnap the Democrat governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, and violently overthrow the state government.

The FBI announced yesterday that it had an informant inside the gang, who allegedly approached a Michigan militia for support in their scheme.

Joe Gasper, head of Michigan state police, said the plot and subsequent arrests were “unprecedented”.

Ms Whitmer, 49, has become a lightning rod for conservatives in the deeply divided state, and her strong support for Covid-19 lockdown measures has increased the passionate antipathy many in Michigan feel towards her.

On April 17, Donald Trump tweeted: “Liberate Michigan!”

Ms Whitmer accused Mr Trump yesterday of issuing “a call to action” for militia groups, and said he was “complicit”. “Just last week the president stood on the debate stage and refused to condemn white supremacists, like these two Michigan groups,” she said.

The gang twice conducted surveillance at Ms Whitmer’s summer home in the west of the state, and discussed kidnapping her to a remote location in Wisconsin to stand “trial” for treason, prosecutors allege.

“Our efforts uncovered elaborate plans to endanger the lives of law

‘We uncovered elaborate plans to endanger the lives of law enforcement officers, officials and the public’

enforcement officers, government officials and the broader public,” said Dana Nessel, the Michigan attorney general.

Charges against an initial six were announced yesterday morning, and in the afternoon she said that seven more were in custody, charged with domestic terrorism, and linked to Wolverine Watchmen, a militia group.

The organisation was founded in 1994 by Norm Olson, a former US airforce non-commissioned officer, and claims to have more than 80 brigades in nine divisions across the state.

Experts say membership figures could number several thousand at any one time. Training sessions involving tactical and survival role-playing and weapons use are usually held once a month, The Irish Times reported. The militia’s handbook claims it is not a racist or Right-wing organisation, the paper said.

Josh Hauxhurt, the FBI assistant special agent in charge, described the 13 as “extremists” whose actions could not be tolerated. “Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor,” an FBI agent wrote in the affidavit.

One of the six co-conspirators named, Ty Garbin, 24, had his home raided by agents in Hartland Township late on Wednesday. The others named in the plot to work with the militia are Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta.

They were arrested on Wednesday in eastern Michigan while meeting to discuss pooling their funds and buy tactical gear for their plot.