Whitmer Kidnapping Plot: Jurors deliberating charges against men following trial
The 15-day trial covered a range of accusations, featured testimony from defendants and those who pleaded guilty for reduced charges, and got heated at times between the two sides.
Jurors to hear closing arguments in Whitmer kidnapping plot trial Friday
The last day of the trial featured perilous testimony from one of the alleged plotters, who could have exposed himself while on the stand.
Whitmer Kidnap plotting suspect takes stand, says he never agreed to plan
Daniel Harris, 24, said he was a former Marine who wanted to maintain his infantry skills when he joined a militia, the Wolverine Watchmen.
What role does entrapment play in Whitmer kidnap plot trial
A major pitfall in arguing entrapment by the defense is that it means admitting to jurors the client did indeed commit the alleged crime. Jurors will need to be convinced they to would have acquiesced to committing a major felony under the right amount of deceit and pressure.
Prosecutors rest case in Whitmer kidnapping plot trial
Key evidence over 13 days of trial came from two undercover FBI agents and an informant who was among the extremists for months and made hours of secret recordings. Two men who avoided trial by pleading guilty provided critical testimony last week.
Man in Gov. Whitmer kidnapping plot trial talked about hanging leaders
A man involved in the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot is accused of writing posts on social media about hanging governors.
Undercover FBI agent testimony will conclude prosecution's case in Whitmer kidnap trial
The agent, known as 'Red' joined key members of the group on a 2020 trip to Elk Rapids to look at Gretchen Whitmer's vacation home and a nearby bridge they could blow up.
Man who pleaded guilty in Whitmer kidnapping plot says 'no question' of plan to abduct governor
Ty Garbin testified against some of the men he says he plotted to kidnap the governor with on Wednesday during the trial. The goal was “to kidnap the governor,” he told a prosecutor.
‘When’s the lynching?': Man named leader in Whitmer kidnapping plot said after COVID restrictions struck down
After the Michigan Supreme Court struck down COVID-19 restrictions, Adam Fox, the alleged leader of the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, sent a group chat asking other members 'when's the lynching?'
Informant who secretly recorded defendants in court Monday for Michigan governor plot trial
Dan Chappel, 35, was an Army veteran who said he simply went from looking for camaraderie in gun-rights groups to winning the confidence of the men and recording their conversations.
Whitmer kidnapping trial: key informant says suspects wanted to target and kill law enforcement
Jurors in Michigan are hearing from an Army veteran who became an FBI informant after hearing members of a militia talk about killing police.
Trial of men charged with planning to kidnap Michigan governor resumes
The trial was paused due to a COVID-19 case among one of the key participants in the case.
Trial for 4 men accused of plotting to abduct Gov. Whitmer delayed over COVID-19
An essential participant in the federal trial tested positive on Sunday, leading to the trial's delay. Informants and FBI agents were expected to testify in the coming weeks as prosecutors built a case.
Jury hears man discuss plan to abduct Whitmer during trial
“I’m going to terrorize people. The right people. The people who have been terrorizing my people,” said Barry Croft Jr. during a covert recording.
Whitmer kidnap trial focus turns toward entrapment
“They knew it was stoned-crazy talk and not a plan,” a defense attorney said, referring to the FBI. At one point, the attorney said the defendant's state of mind included coming up with a plan to put the governor on a kite to transport her.
Defendant in Whitmer kidnapping plot case was pot-smoking 'misfit' swayed by FBI informant, lawyer says
Four men face trial: Fox, Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft Jr. and Daniel Harris. Prosecutors say the men came up with the plan to snatch the Democratic governor because they were angry about pandemic restrictions she imposed.
Openings set for Michigan Gov. Whitmer kidnap trial Wednesday
On Tuesday, the U.S. District judge overseeing the trial told potential jurors: “This isn’t your average criminal case” because of the extraordinary allegations of violence planned against an elected official.
Jury set in trial of 4 charged in Gov. Whitmer kidnapping plot
Opening statements are scheduled to begin Wednesday in federal court in Grand Rapids. After the jury was selected Tuesday, Judge Robert Jonker told them to stay off social media and not discuss the case with family.
Trial for 4 accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan governor begins Tuesday
Jury selection begins Tuesday for a trial that could last more than a month in court. Prosecutors plan to show secret recordings and evidence of how the four men united behind a wild plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
With trial in Whitmer kidnapping plot looming, experts see a 'different kind of domestic terrorism phenomenon'
The citizen militia activists that experts got to know in the 1990s didn't seem like the types to abduct a governor or stage a coup. But experts say things have changed in recent years, having taken a more violent and radical turn.