The three men are accused of working with the federally indicted group of six who prosecutors say became enraged over Covid-19 lockdowns mandated by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and sought to try her for treason.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at furniture company Steelcase in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Monday. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
JACKSON, Mich. (CN) Three men charged on the state level for a plan to kidnap Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer went before a judge Tuesday for a pretrial hearing to determine bond conditions and set dates for motion arguments as the parties prepare for a long court battle.
Wisconsin militia member in Whitmer plot extradited to Michigan, released on bond
One of the 14 men charged in last year’s pre-election plot to kidnap and execute Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer dropped his extradition appeal in Wisconsin, was taken to Michigan and was briefly booked into the Antrim County Jail last Tuesday.
Brian Higgins, 52, is facing a 20-year felony charge after being charged last October with providing material support of an act of terrorism. Higgins is one of a group of right-wing militia supporters who have been charged in the plot to kidnap and kill the governor over her actions in enforcing an initial coronavirus lockdown a year ago.
Republican Governors Open Campaign Against MI Governor Whitmer
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Photo: Republican Governors Association
The Republican Governors are embarking on a digital media campaign against Whitmer. Michigan s restaurant and bar owners are being asked to join the effort. One of the first to join the campaign is Huron Valley Guns. The business operates a restaurant along with a gun shop and shooting range. It has been targeted for virus enforcement action by the Whitmer administration. Now Huron Valley Guns is taking a digital shot of its own at Whitmer. It’s posting a copy of a message from a coaster, supplied by the national Republican Governors Association. It proclaims “Gov. Whitmer Almost Killed
I published a piece back on April 7th speculating why Governor Whitmer had not closed down our state due to the increasing number of COVID-19 positive patients and hospitalizations like she did last fall.
The Michigan Capitol Confidential reminded us of an executive/emergency order she had the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued on November 15, 2020.
That order shutdown; schools, school sports, bars, restaurants, movie theaters and more. That order in part read:
“The State of Michigan presently has a seven-day average of 512 cases per million people, which is five times higher than the case rate on October 1. Test positivity has increased from 3.2% in early October to 12% on November 13. And while testing has increased 78% since October 1, test positivity has increased 225% during that same time frame, indicating COVID-19 spread is happening much more quickly than tests being administered. All regions in Michigan are now at the highest risk le
Prosecutors say the men were furious with the governor for shutting down the state during the Covid-19 pandemic and vowed to try her for treason.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech in Lansing last October. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (CN) Five men charged with conspiring to kidnap Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer were hit with more charges Wednesday that could put them in prison for life, after a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment that added firearms violations and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.
The defendants are Adam Fox, 40, of Wyoming, Michigan; Barry Croft Jr., 45, of Bear, Delaware; Daniel Joseph Harris, 23, of Lake Orion, Michigan, Brandon Caserta, 32, of Canton Township, Michigan; and Kaleb Franks, 26, of Waterford, Michigan.