Law enforcement officials are currently investigating a plot to kidnap a sitting Governor. Multiple people, including militia members, have been arrested and charged.
The Plot
Several men face charges in the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Authorities say the men even went so far as to watch her vacation home and build bombs.
On Tuesday, a court document was filed which identifies the suspects in the federal case as Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, Barry Croft, Kaleb Franks, Brandon Caserta, and Daniel Harris. Croft, a Delaware resident, is the only one of the six suspects who is not from Michigan. All of the suspects face up to life in prison if convicted.
According to 8 News Now, “At the state level, three men were charged Thursday with counts of providing material support for a terrorist act and felony firearms in Antrim County for their roles in the plot. The suspects included William Null, 38, of Shelbyville and Michael Null, 38, of Plainwell and Eric Molitor, 36, of Cadillac.”
Bond was set at $250,000 for each of the three men, and they were ordered to not have any contact with Governor Whitmer if they were to post bond and be released.
Four other men are also in custody for their part in the plot. According to 8 News Now, those men and their charges are:
- “Paul Bellar, 21, of Milford: Providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership, and felony firearm.”
- “Sean Fix, 38, of Belleville: Providing material support for terrorist acts and felony firearm.”
- “Pete Musico, 42, and Joseph Morrison, 42, who live together in Munith, northeast of Jackson: threat of terrorism, gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts, felony firearm. They are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in Jackson County.”
According to sources, several of these men are members of the militia group “Wolverine Watchmen.”
The FBI has said that it had already been watching that particular militia group after posts online by group members discussed overthrowing the government. According to the FBI, one member of the group became worried about the escalation and plans to kill police, and had agreed to become an informant. Through that informant and undercover officers, the FBI gathered information.
Authorities have alleged that in conversations within the group both online and in-person, a firm plan had formed. “Fox described it as a ‘Snatch and grab, man. Grab the (expletive) Governor. Just grab the (expletive). Because that that point, we do that, dude — it’s over,’” the criminal complaint reads in part.
Reportedly, the plan was to kidnap Whitmer, take her to Wisconsin, and hold a court trial for treason. According to the criminal complaint, militia members also discussed storming the state Capitol and engaging the police with Moltov cocktails, but that idea was shut down by Garbin.
The focus of the plot then turned to Whitmer’s vacation home. The suspects allegedly went to the vacation home to scope it out at least twice.
The FBI agent said that Fox bought a Taser for the attack, and Garbin suggested blowing up a nearby bridge to slow police response.
According to authorities, during one weapons test, the suspects successfully detonated a bomb wrapped in shrapnel.
The suspects originally wanted to carry out the plan on the night of September 12th-13th, but Croft did not believe the time was right, though they wanted to act before the November election.
The left, including former FBI Director Andrew McCabe, is already trying to blame President Trump for the kidnapping plot.
A Standoff?
According to liberal news outlet Raw Story, there is a standoff underway with one of the suspects in Munith, Michigan which involves State Police, Federal Law Enforcement, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. There has yet to be any confirmation of the standoff occurring from any other publication.
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