(Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
July 20, 2021
4:32 PM ET
Font Size:
The FBI allegedly played a much “larger role” in the plot to kidnap Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, according to a BuzzFeed News report. The defense had originally planned to argue that the alleged plotters were “induced or persuaded” by the FBI.
At least 12 FBI informants and undercover FBI agents were involved with gathering information against the anti-government militia members who allegedly planned to kidnap Whitmer. BuzzFeed claimed that the FBI played a greater role than was previously known. The months-long investigation eventually led to the arrest of 14 individuals in connection to the plot to kidnap Whitmer, and 13 of them have pleaded not guilty, according to BuzzFeed.
View Comments
LANSING – A state prosecutor handling cases related to an alleged plot against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been pulled off the cases because of alleged wrongdoing in an unrelated case, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Dana Nessel said Friday.
Assistant Attorney General Greg Townsend was reassigned from his docket while the Department of Attorney General performs a comprehensive audit of his work, spokeswoman Lynsey Mukomel told the Free Press.
Mukomel declined further comment.
The AG s action follows Friday s announcement by Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald that she had found evidence of potential breaches of prosecutorial ethics by a prosecutor who secured arson and murder convictions in connection with a house fire in Royal Oak Township in 2000 that resulted in the deaths of five children.
GOP Michigan Sen. Mike Shirkey Pictured With Whitmer Kidnap Plot Suspect
On 5/13/21 at 11:33 AM EDT
A photo shared on the social media site Parler appears to show Mike Shirkey, a Republican state senator from Michigan, with one of the men charged over the alleged plot to kidnap the state s governor, Gretchen Whitmer.
The photo was posted on the platform, which is popular with conservatives, about one month ago. It shows Shirkey, majority leader in the Michigan Senate, smiling as he stands alongside William Null, who faces up to 22 years in prison if he is convicted of domestic terrorism.
The image was uploaded by Jason Howland, co-founder of a group called the American Patriot Council. He wrote alongside the photo: The establishment wants to remove one of Michigan s nest [sic] sheriffs for sharing a stage with an ALLEGED terrorist, but here s state senate majority leader Mike Shirkey on the same stage with the same guy… and he looks so happy.
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.
Twin brothers accused in Whitmer kidnapping plot released from house arrest
Michael and William Null, 38, were allegedly apart of the kidnapping scheme involving the Michigan governor
Loading the player.
Twin brothers are being removed from house release despite being accused of plotting to kidnap the governor of Michigan.
Michael and William Null, 38, were allegedly a part of the kidnapping scheme involving Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer and were being held on house arrest. But on Wednesday, a judge lifted the brother’s curfew and house arrest restrictions, per
“These men were allegedly part of a complex plot to kidnap and harm the governor,” said Michigan Attorney General