Motion seeks indictment dismissal for 5 charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot due to โgovernment overreachโ
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.
A look at group texts between suspects in terrorist plot against Michigan Gov. Whitmer
Details of the secret group chat held by some of the suspects in the alleged domestic terrorism plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Local 4 Defenders saw the groupโs conversation in which one member alerted them that police questioned a former roommate of his in Milford. All defendants on the group chat are from Metro Detroit. Fox reportedly wasnโt told that members believed the suspected domestic terrorist plot had gotten out. Many of the suspects in the alleged domestic terrorism plot to kidnap and kill Gov.
Guns, maps, audio recordings -- New evidence in terrorist plot against Whitmer revealed
LANSING, Mich. โ 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.
Judge finds cases against 5 in Whitmer plot can move forward
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Berens said the five men's cases can go to a grand jury, which will determine whether to issue indictments. Berens on Tuesday denied bond for the three other Michigan residents charged in the case: Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta. Agent Richard Trask testified that members of anti-government paramilitary groups from several states discussed abducting Whitmer or Virginia Democratic Gov. Authorities found conversations among group members in which they were worried that federal authorities had infiltrated their planning sessions, he said. Berens found that the information presented showed the men had a unified purpose โ to kidnap Whitmer โ allowing the case to move forward.
3 men signed up, trained, plotted ways to kill Michigan Gov. Whitmer, according to FBI testimony
Gretchen Whitmer actually signed up, trained and plotted ways to shoot and kill her, according to FBI testimony. FBI agents said Garbin is a member of the Wolverine Watchmen domestic terror group who was recruited into the plot against Whitmer. His Hartland home was raided by FBI agents as part of the investigation, testimony revealed. Harris held a meeting at his home to confirm the identities of everyone involved in the larger kidnapping plot, FBI officials said. Harris was pushing forward to try to kill Whitmer, according to testimony.
FBI: Domestic terror group plotting against Gov. Whitmer also discussed kidnapping Virginia governor
The domestic terror group accused of plotting against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also discussed kidnapping the governor of Virginia, according to FBI testimony. Five Michigan men -- Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, Daniel Harris, Kaleb Franks and Brandon Caserta -- appeared in court Tuesday after being charged with conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer. Three of the men charged in a domestic terror plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Theyโre domestic terroristsโOfficials said Ty Garbin, Daniel Harris, Kaleb Franks -- who were all charged with conspiracy to kidnap the governor -- were โall inโ on actually killing Whitmer.
5 suspects in Whitmer kidnapping plot to be in federal court Tuesday in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. โ 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.
Agent: Michigan, Virginia governors mentioned in kidnap plot
In a photo provided by the Michigan Office of the Governor, Michigan Gov. A judge ordered three of six men charged in the case held without bond until trial, delaying rulings on two defendants. But in keeping with security protocols for highly classified information, neither the governor nor members of his staff were informed. Trask, the FBI agent, testified that authorities learned of the June meeting in Ohio while investigating various anti-government groups. Michigan, and particularly the Detroit area, were hit hard early during the pandemic, leading Whitmer to tightly restrict personal movement and the economy.
Gov. Whitmer kidnapping plot: Hereโs what weโve learned as of Friday afternoon
Local 4 has learned more Friday about the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Thatโs when the Wolverine Watchmen caught the FBIโs attention. In June, the men involved in the kidnapping conspiracy started meeting with members of the Wolverine Watchmen and recruiting others to their ranks. โThey belong to a group, a militia group, called the Wolverine Watchmen. A house on Dunn Road in Munith that was raided Oct. 8, 2020, in connection with a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov.
Gov. Whitmer kidnapping suspects linked to โboogalooโ anti-government movement, NBC News finds
LANSING, Mich. โ Some of the Michigan men charged after a conspiracy to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have links to the national โboogalooโ 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: Hereโs what to know
If youโre looking to get caught up on Thursdayโs announcement about a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, hereโs 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.
Jackson County home was alleged โtraining groundโ in plot to kidnap Whitmer
MUNITH, Mich. โ Federal and state officials have charged 13 people after uncovering a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow the Michigan government, FBI agents said. Through confidential informants and undercover agents, the FBI gained access to audio recordings, ground messages and secret meetings as the group plotted for months, according to court records. In addition to a Wednesday night raid in Hartland, FBI agents also raided the home of two of the suspects in Jackson County. Authorities said the Munith home served as a training facility for members of the group now facing terrorism charges.
View: Mugshots for all 14 people charged after FBI uncovered plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer
Paul Bellar, 21, of Milford, was charged with providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership and a felony firearm violation. Providing material support for terrorists acts, threat of terrorism and gang membership are each 20-year felonies. The felony firearm violations come with mandatory two-year prison sentences, to be served consecutively. You can view mugshots for Bellar, Musico, Morrison, Molitor, Fix and the Nulls below. Brian Higgins was charged after the FBI uncovered a domestic terror plot targeting Michigan Gov.
Deep dive into the details of a scheme to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, hold her hostage
Here is a deep dive into the intricate details of a scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at her vacation home, including quotes from undercover audio recordings, code words used while plotting and a secret trap door hidden under the rug of a Grand Rapids business.
FBI uncovers plan to kidnap Gov. Whitmer as hostage, overthrow Michigan government, feds say
More than a dozen people have been charged after what the FBI is calling a โviolentโ militia scheme involving people from several different states to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as a hostage and overthrow the Michigan government.