In outcome of Whitmer case, some see freedom, others danger
That a jury didn't convict any of the four men charged with planning to kidnap Michigan Gov_ Gretchen Whitmer is further evidence of the political polarization in the U_S_ A defense lawyer for one of the men says it shows freedom still exists, and that the men's actions were nothing more than “rough talk.”.
‘Glad he’s home,’ family of cleared Whitmer plot suspect says
Whitmer kidnap case crashes: ‘Conspiracy that just never was,’ attorney says“We’re glad he’s home,” she said. Whitmer to return for fourth day of deliberationsDefendants felt ‘totally justified’ in alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer manipulated by FBI, informant, attorney argues‘I always disagreed,’ defendant says, before alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer goes to juryMan in alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot trial
mlive.comShocker: Far-Right Men Accused in Michigan Guv Kidnap Plot Duck Conviction
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photo by JIM WATSON/GettyIn a shocking twist, a gaggle of white men accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the weeks before the 2020 presidential election dodged convictions on Friday.After five days of deliberations, a Michigan jury acquitted Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta of several charges, including conspiracy, for what prosecutors said was a depraved scheme born out of anti-government anger at the Democratic leader’s COVID-
news.yahoo.comDefendants felt ‘totally justified’ in alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, prosecutor says
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – After the defense blamed the FBI for guiding an alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a federal prosecutor reminded jurors of the defendants’ potentially damning statements. “Isn’t it unusual that when Brandon Caserta (said), ‘If I get hemmed up, I’ll do my time?’ Why say that if you haven’t committed a crime?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said Friday, April 1.
mlive.comFBI: Accused wanted 'tyrant' Gov. Whitmer tied up on table
A key figure in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov_ Gretchen Whitmer was secretly recorded telling an undercover FBI agent that he wanted to restrain the “tyrant” on a table, then pose for a photo “like we just made the biggest drug bust.”.
Motion seeks indictment dismissal for 5 charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot due to ‘government overreach’
Attorneys for the defendants in the alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are requesting the indictment be dropped for five men charged in the case, arguing that the government orchestrated the plot and entrapped those accused.
FBI agent told informant among alleged Whitmer kidnapping plotters to lie, defense attorney says
The attorney for a man accused of being involved in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer alleged that an FBI agent instructed an informant to lie and delete text messages that would reveal the agency was unlawfully furthering the conspiracy.
news.yahoo.comTrial postponed for five men in alleged Governor Whitmer kidnapping plot
The trial was postponed to give defense lawyers more time to receive and analyze evidence. In October, the FBI announced it had broken up the plot to kidnap Whitmer that was put in motion by anti-government extremists upset over her COVID-19 restrictions. Six people were charged in federal court, while eight others were charged in state court. Ty Garbin, one of the six men charged in federal court, pleaded guilty in January and said he would cooperate with prosecutors. The six men facing federal charges were part of a broader attempt to spark a civil war by overthrowing the government and killing police personnel.
arabamericannews.comGrand jury indicts 6 suspects in plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer
Kent County JailAccused Whitmer plot ringleader Adam Fox, 37, of Potterville. Six men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were indicted by a federal grand jury late Wednesday, paving the way for a criminal trial.The suspects face up to life in prison on one count of kidnapping conspiracy.A trial date has not yet been set.The indictment sheds more light on the case. An additional six suspects in the kidnapping plot were charged in state court.According to new filings, investigators raided sites in multiple states, including a firing range in northern Michigan and homes in metro Detroit.Federal prosecutors were considering filing terrorism charges against the six men after investigators revealed finding bomb parts and other new evidence. Prosecutors can still file additional charges in the case.Prosecutors said they have a lot of evidence to examine, including more than 13,000 pages of encrypted text messages, hundreds of hours of undercover audio recordings, and “voluminous” amounts of audio and video found on seized computers and cellphones.
metrotimes.comGuns, maps, audio recordings -- New evidence in terrorist plot against Whitmer revealed
LANSING, Mich. – Local 4 Defenders collected new, never-before-seen evidence against the 14 men accused of the terrorist plot to kidnap and possibly kill Gov. Video shows one Wolverine Watchmen member show off his weapons -- including suppressors or silencers, and a locker packed with firearms. Another member, Brandon Caserta of Canton, is seen showing off a 800,000-volt electroshock weapon that federal investigators said he wanted to use on Whitmer. The goal was allegedly to assemble 200 men to storm the Michigan Capitol Building and take hostages -- including Whitmer. The affidavit indicates that Croft not only wanted to go after Whitmer, but other governors across the country.
Released photos and videos offer look at training, weaponry in alleged Gov. Whitmer kidnapping plot
One video shows people, dressed in military gear, exiting a vehicle and firing rounds from guns off into the distance. In releasing the photos and videos -- including screenshots of text and other messaging -- federal prosecutors did not offer descriptions of the exhibits. One video shows people dressed in military gear exiting a vehicle, armed with what appears to be assault rifles and firing into the distance. Whitmer kidnapping plot justified, attorneys sayYet another video shows a man triggering a Taser, with electrical pulses visible. The longest video shows suspect Brandon Caserta speaking to a camera and talking about taking out “government thugs that rob people everyday."
mlive.comVideo: Would-be Whitmer kidnappers trained in a PT Cruiser
BREAKING: Today @FOX17 obtained new FBI docs in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan @GovWhitmer - the docs lay out tactical training, surveillance, and violent threats against lawmakers and police officers..... pic.twitter.com/kYNkf0F5pK — Doug Reardon (@ReardonReports) October 16, 2020The domestic terrorists accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer carried out tactical training exercises, which they filmed — resulting in the surreal sight of heavily armed men leaping out of a PT Cruiser and firing off rounds of bullets, according to new video obtained by Grand Rapids's Fox affiliate WXMI.The videos were presented in court and released Friday by the U.S. Attorney's office. "Exhibit 2" shows four men getting out of the PT Cruiser and firing multiple rounds from assault-style rifles. Other videos show the men practicing reloading their guns quickly.Additional information released Friday includes screenshots of encrypted text messages among the men, crudely drawn maps, and photos of a bridge near the governor's vacation home that they planned to blow up in order to create a distraction.The videos also showed the lengths the men said they would go to in order to carry out their mission. "If this whole thing, you know, starts to happen, I'm telling you what, dude, I'm taking out as many of those motherfuckers as I can," Brandon Caserta, a 32-year-old man from Canton, says in one video.You can see the video below, or more over at Fox 17
metrotimes.comInside the traffic stop that set off suspect in Michigan terror plot and led FBI to start arrests
On Sept. 19 just 28 days ago the Local 4 Defenders obtained a Canton police video of a traffic stop. After the stop, Caserta was on his YouTube channel raging against police taking money from citizens. Two FBI informants on the inside of the group sent agents encrypted messages they say were from Caserta. In the messages Caserta noted he found out who the officers were in the traffic stop, where they lived and that he could easily kill them. Sources say it was this traffic stop and the threats afterwards that led the FBI to swoop in and arrest the group.
5 men charged in domestic terror plot against Gov. Whitmer bound over for trial
LANSING, Mich. – Five of the men charged in an alleged domestic terror plot targeting Michigan Gov. FBI officials said the men were captured on audio tapes plotting to kidnap or kill Whitmer and overthrow the state Capitol Building. Brian Higgins was charged after the FBI uncovered a domestic terror plot targeting Michigan Gov. FBI officials said the alleged plot was to storm the state Capitol Building or kidnap Whitmer from her northern Michigan vacation home. FBI officials said they were able to stop the men before that happened.
Federal court hearing for suspects in Whitmer kidnapping plot -- what we’ve learned as of Tuesday
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Federal prosecutors and FBI agents detailed the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Federal officials said Kaleb Franks, of Waterford, advocated for someone to impersonate a pizza delivery driver and shoot Whitmer at her home. Brandon Caserta, of Canton, may have been the reason federal officials moved to arrest the men. According to federal officials, the men were angry over COVID-19 shutdown orders and also contemplated attacking the governor of Virginia. The plot against Whitmer and an attack on the State House were the main focus.
5 suspects in Whitmer kidnapping plot to be in federal court Tuesday in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Five men accused in the domestic terror plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are scheduled for a hearing Tuesday in Grand Rapids. Those to be in court are Adam Fox, of Grand Rapids; Ty Garbin, of Hartland; Kaleb Franks, of Waterford; Daniel Harris, of Lake Orion; and Brandon Caserta, of Canton. The six men are accused of plotting to kidnap Whitmer outside of her northern Michigan vacation home. Whitmer has continued to go out and campaign for fellow Democrats since the plot was uncovered.
Gov. Whitmer kidnapping suspects linked to ‘boogaloo’ anti-government movement, NBC News finds
LANSING, Mich. – Some of the Michigan men charged after a conspiracy to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have links to the national “boogaloo” anti-government movement, NBC News found. NBC News looked into the six men directly charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer -- Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, Brandon Caserta and Barry Croft. Croft was seen wearing the insignia of the Three Percenters, an armed anti-government movement, among other online warning signs, according to NBC News. Others in the group facing charges had anti-government memes and posts on social media before they were deleted, according to NBC News.
Foiled terror plot to kidnap Michigan governor: Here’s what to know
If you’re looking to get caught up on Thursday’s announcement about a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, here’s what to know. These are 10 of the 13 people who were charged after the FBI uncovered a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. BOTTOM (left to right): Pete Musico, Eric Molitor, William Null, Michael Null, Joseph Morrison.
Six Arrested on Federal Charge of Conspiracy to Kidnap the Governor of Michigan
The Department of Justice today announced that six men have been arrested and charged federally with conspiring to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. Through confidential sources, undercover agents, and clandestine recordings, law enforcement learned particular individuals were planning to kidnap the Governor and acting in furtherance of that plan. This group used operational security measures, including communicating by encrypted messaging platforms and used code words and phrases in an attempt to avoid detection by law enforcement. The FBI and Michigan State Police executed arrests as multiple conspirators met to pool funds for explosives and exchange tactical gear. Agents of the Detroit Field Office of the FBI and other members of their Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Michigan State Police, are conducting the investigation.
justice.gov