Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer at the Romney Building where her office is located in Lansing, Mich., on May 18, 2020. (Photo: Brittany Greeson for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Oct 08, 2020
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Law enforcement officials announced Thursday they had charged 13 suspects with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and terrorism crimes, after an investigation revealed the right-wing plotters had planned to overthrow the state government of Michigan and take Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hostage.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday afternoon that while six men--all of whom were arrested by agents on Wednesday night--were being charged in federal court related to the kidnapping plot, another seven men, all linked to a group called Wolverine Watchmen and allegedly planning an attack on the Michigan State Capitol, are being charged in state court.
According to an affidavit filed as part of a federal criminal complaint on Thursday, hours after FBI agents raided one of the suspects' homes in Hartland Township, Michigan, the men began plotting a coup earlier this year and had been making preparations for a violent takeover since the summer.
In April, amidst ongoing anti-lockdown protests in the state, President Donald Trump declared "Liberate Michigan!" in an all-caps tweet.
\u201cI wonder where they got their motivation from.\u201d— Rashida Tlaib (@Rashida Tlaib) 1602181207
"This is a pattern: Trump paints a target. An attack or plot follows," tweeted Washington Post national security correspondent Greg Miller--one of several observers who connected the president's rhetoric to the violent plot.
\u201cThis is a pattern: Trump paints a target. An attack or plot follows.\n\n[Scheme to kidnap Michigan governor. Bombs mailed to news orgs/Obama officials. Vigilante violence at BLM protests.]\n\nWhy there is serious concern about election violence.\n\nhttps://t.co/u4FErQqNop\u201d— Greg Miller (@Greg Miller) 1602178524
\u201c\u201cLIBERATE MICHIGAN!\u201d\nThat\u2019s what Trump tweeted. \n\u201cThat woman.\u201d\nThat\u2019s how Trump continually demeans Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan. \n\u201cThoughts & prayers.\u201d That\u2019s what we\u2019re told to do so Trump can resume his coup & his calls for civil war.\n\n\u201cARREST HIM!\u201d That\u2019s what I say\u201d— Michael Moore (@Michael Moore) 1602179899
The suspects charged by the FBI--identified by the Detroit News as Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, and Brandon Caserta--met for firearms training and attempted to make explosives over the summer, shortly after Whitmer became the focus of right-wing ire regarding economic shutdowns that were implemented to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
In June, two of the suspects met with 13 other people from several states, including an FBI source.
"The group talked about creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient," an FBI agent wrote. "They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavors to violent actions. At one point, several members talked about state governments they believed were violating the U.S. Constitution, including the government of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer."
According to the criminal complaint, one suspect said over the summer that he wanted 200 men to storm the Michigan Statehouse. In July, they discussed kidnapping Whitmer and taking her to a "secure location" where they would put her on "trial" for treason.
Based on information put forth by the authorities, the men may have been planning to put their plot into action imminently. The New York Timesreported that the six arrested by the FBI had scoped out Whitmer's vacation home in both August and September and wanted to abduct her before the November election.
The FBI reportedly learned via social media posts in early 2020 that individuals were discussing the overthrow of a number of state governments. Some of the suspects later connected with a Michigan-based domestic terrorist group that was under FBI investigation.
"Several [militia] members talked about murdering 'tyrants' or 'taking' a sitting governor," an FBI agent wrote in the court filing. "The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message."
The suspects connected with the militia and began making their preparations after a small, vocal minority of Michigan residents held a number of protests in the state capitol over Whitmer's stay-at-home order in accordance with public health guidelines. In April, armed protesters at the so-called "American Patriot Rally" attempted to enter the legislative chamber in the Statehouse while lawmakers were debating an extension of Whitmer's emergency order. Trump expressed strong support for the protests, which were partially organized by a group linked to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
Michigan state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden suggested on Twitter that the fears she expressed while working the Statehouse during the "American Patriot Rally" were clearly not an "overreaction," as she was told at the time.
\u201cWhen I expressed how terrified I was to be at work while armed militia stormed the Michigan Capitol (with nooses, confederate flags, and swastikas)...I was told I was overreacting.... \n\nhttps://t.co/TtWvF5iBPE\u201d— Kyra Harris Bolden (@Kyra Harris Bolden) 1602173945
"You weren't overreacting," replied Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). "Violence towards women in politics is on the rise in our country. Dangerous rhetoric from the White House to normalizing this type of violence, we need to be cautious."
The Michigan Supreme Court last week ruled that the governor did not have the authority to extend or declare a state of emergency in response to the pandemic, a ruling Whitmer said would make the state "the sole outlier" at a time when every state has some form of emergency order in accordance with public health guidance.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Law enforcement officials announced Thursday they had charged 13 suspects with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and terrorism crimes, after an investigation revealed the right-wing plotters had planned to overthrow the state government of Michigan and take Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hostage.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday afternoon that while six men--all of whom were arrested by agents on Wednesday night--were being charged in federal court related to the kidnapping plot, another seven men, all linked to a group called Wolverine Watchmen and allegedly planning an attack on the Michigan State Capitol, are being charged in state court.
According to an affidavit filed as part of a federal criminal complaint on Thursday, hours after FBI agents raided one of the suspects' homes in Hartland Township, Michigan, the men began plotting a coup earlier this year and had been making preparations for a violent takeover since the summer.
In April, amidst ongoing anti-lockdown protests in the state, President Donald Trump declared "Liberate Michigan!" in an all-caps tweet.
\u201cI wonder where they got their motivation from.\u201d— Rashida Tlaib (@Rashida Tlaib) 1602181207
"This is a pattern: Trump paints a target. An attack or plot follows," tweeted Washington Post national security correspondent Greg Miller--one of several observers who connected the president's rhetoric to the violent plot.
\u201cThis is a pattern: Trump paints a target. An attack or plot follows.\n\n[Scheme to kidnap Michigan governor. Bombs mailed to news orgs/Obama officials. Vigilante violence at BLM protests.]\n\nWhy there is serious concern about election violence.\n\nhttps://t.co/u4FErQqNop\u201d— Greg Miller (@Greg Miller) 1602178524
\u201c\u201cLIBERATE MICHIGAN!\u201d\nThat\u2019s what Trump tweeted. \n\u201cThat woman.\u201d\nThat\u2019s how Trump continually demeans Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan. \n\u201cThoughts & prayers.\u201d That\u2019s what we\u2019re told to do so Trump can resume his coup & his calls for civil war.\n\n\u201cARREST HIM!\u201d That\u2019s what I say\u201d— Michael Moore (@Michael Moore) 1602179899
The suspects charged by the FBI--identified by the Detroit News as Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, and Brandon Caserta--met for firearms training and attempted to make explosives over the summer, shortly after Whitmer became the focus of right-wing ire regarding economic shutdowns that were implemented to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
In June, two of the suspects met with 13 other people from several states, including an FBI source.
"The group talked about creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient," an FBI agent wrote. "They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavors to violent actions. At one point, several members talked about state governments they believed were violating the U.S. Constitution, including the government of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer."
According to the criminal complaint, one suspect said over the summer that he wanted 200 men to storm the Michigan Statehouse. In July, they discussed kidnapping Whitmer and taking her to a "secure location" where they would put her on "trial" for treason.
Based on information put forth by the authorities, the men may have been planning to put their plot into action imminently. The New York Timesreported that the six arrested by the FBI had scoped out Whitmer's vacation home in both August and September and wanted to abduct her before the November election.
The FBI reportedly learned via social media posts in early 2020 that individuals were discussing the overthrow of a number of state governments. Some of the suspects later connected with a Michigan-based domestic terrorist group that was under FBI investigation.
"Several [militia] members talked about murdering 'tyrants' or 'taking' a sitting governor," an FBI agent wrote in the court filing. "The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message."
The suspects connected with the militia and began making their preparations after a small, vocal minority of Michigan residents held a number of protests in the state capitol over Whitmer's stay-at-home order in accordance with public health guidelines. In April, armed protesters at the so-called "American Patriot Rally" attempted to enter the legislative chamber in the Statehouse while lawmakers were debating an extension of Whitmer's emergency order. Trump expressed strong support for the protests, which were partially organized by a group linked to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
Michigan state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden suggested on Twitter that the fears she expressed while working the Statehouse during the "American Patriot Rally" were clearly not an "overreaction," as she was told at the time.
\u201cWhen I expressed how terrified I was to be at work while armed militia stormed the Michigan Capitol (with nooses, confederate flags, and swastikas)...I was told I was overreacting.... \n\nhttps://t.co/TtWvF5iBPE\u201d— Kyra Harris Bolden (@Kyra Harris Bolden) 1602173945
"You weren't overreacting," replied Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). "Violence towards women in politics is on the rise in our country. Dangerous rhetoric from the White House to normalizing this type of violence, we need to be cautious."
The Michigan Supreme Court last week ruled that the governor did not have the authority to extend or declare a state of emergency in response to the pandemic, a ruling Whitmer said would make the state "the sole outlier" at a time when every state has some form of emergency order in accordance with public health guidance.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Law enforcement officials announced Thursday they had charged 13 suspects with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and terrorism crimes, after an investigation revealed the right-wing plotters had planned to overthrow the state government of Michigan and take Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hostage.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday afternoon that while six men--all of whom were arrested by agents on Wednesday night--were being charged in federal court related to the kidnapping plot, another seven men, all linked to a group called Wolverine Watchmen and allegedly planning an attack on the Michigan State Capitol, are being charged in state court.
According to an affidavit filed as part of a federal criminal complaint on Thursday, hours after FBI agents raided one of the suspects' homes in Hartland Township, Michigan, the men began plotting a coup earlier this year and had been making preparations for a violent takeover since the summer.
In April, amidst ongoing anti-lockdown protests in the state, President Donald Trump declared "Liberate Michigan!" in an all-caps tweet.
\u201cI wonder where they got their motivation from.\u201d— Rashida Tlaib (@Rashida Tlaib) 1602181207
"This is a pattern: Trump paints a target. An attack or plot follows," tweeted Washington Post national security correspondent Greg Miller--one of several observers who connected the president's rhetoric to the violent plot.
\u201cThis is a pattern: Trump paints a target. An attack or plot follows.\n\n[Scheme to kidnap Michigan governor. Bombs mailed to news orgs/Obama officials. Vigilante violence at BLM protests.]\n\nWhy there is serious concern about election violence.\n\nhttps://t.co/u4FErQqNop\u201d— Greg Miller (@Greg Miller) 1602178524
\u201c\u201cLIBERATE MICHIGAN!\u201d\nThat\u2019s what Trump tweeted. \n\u201cThat woman.\u201d\nThat\u2019s how Trump continually demeans Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan. \n\u201cThoughts & prayers.\u201d That\u2019s what we\u2019re told to do so Trump can resume his coup & his calls for civil war.\n\n\u201cARREST HIM!\u201d That\u2019s what I say\u201d— Michael Moore (@Michael Moore) 1602179899
The suspects charged by the FBI--identified by the Detroit News as Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, and Brandon Caserta--met for firearms training and attempted to make explosives over the summer, shortly after Whitmer became the focus of right-wing ire regarding economic shutdowns that were implemented to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
In June, two of the suspects met with 13 other people from several states, including an FBI source.
"The group talked about creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient," an FBI agent wrote. "They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavors to violent actions. At one point, several members talked about state governments they believed were violating the U.S. Constitution, including the government of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer."
According to the criminal complaint, one suspect said over the summer that he wanted 200 men to storm the Michigan Statehouse. In July, they discussed kidnapping Whitmer and taking her to a "secure location" where they would put her on "trial" for treason.
Based on information put forth by the authorities, the men may have been planning to put their plot into action imminently. The New York Timesreported that the six arrested by the FBI had scoped out Whitmer's vacation home in both August and September and wanted to abduct her before the November election.
The FBI reportedly learned via social media posts in early 2020 that individuals were discussing the overthrow of a number of state governments. Some of the suspects later connected with a Michigan-based domestic terrorist group that was under FBI investigation.
"Several [militia] members talked about murdering 'tyrants' or 'taking' a sitting governor," an FBI agent wrote in the court filing. "The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message."
The suspects connected with the militia and began making their preparations after a small, vocal minority of Michigan residents held a number of protests in the state capitol over Whitmer's stay-at-home order in accordance with public health guidelines. In April, armed protesters at the so-called "American Patriot Rally" attempted to enter the legislative chamber in the Statehouse while lawmakers were debating an extension of Whitmer's emergency order. Trump expressed strong support for the protests, which were partially organized by a group linked to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
Michigan state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden suggested on Twitter that the fears she expressed while working the Statehouse during the "American Patriot Rally" were clearly not an "overreaction," as she was told at the time.
\u201cWhen I expressed how terrified I was to be at work while armed militia stormed the Michigan Capitol (with nooses, confederate flags, and swastikas)...I was told I was overreacting.... \n\nhttps://t.co/TtWvF5iBPE\u201d— Kyra Harris Bolden (@Kyra Harris Bolden) 1602173945
"You weren't overreacting," replied Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). "Violence towards women in politics is on the rise in our country. Dangerous rhetoric from the White House to normalizing this type of violence, we need to be cautious."
The Michigan Supreme Court last week ruled that the governor did not have the authority to extend or declare a state of emergency in response to the pandemic, a ruling Whitmer said would make the state "the sole outlier" at a time when every state has some form of emergency order in accordance with public health guidance.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.