ASV 13 people have been detained for plotting to kidnap Michigan State Governor Gechen Whitmer, who has backed strong restrictions in the fight against the new coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said.
–
Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
–
The FBI said that this year, social media spoke of talks between several people about the violent overthrow of certain government and law enforcement officials.
The FBI used informants and filtered agents among the suspects to uncover the conspiracy plan.
A secret FBI informant was present at a meeting in June, attended by about 14 people, who discussed the creation of a society that would follow the first ten amendments to the US constitution and be self-sufficient.
“They discussed various ways to achieve this goal, ranging from peaceful endeavors to violence,” the FBI agent said in a report.
Several people present also spoke at the meeting about state governments that they believe violate the U.S. constitution, including Whitmer, a FBI agent said in a report.
There were also speeches at the meeting about the murders and the abduction of the governor.
Whitmer has repeatedly been criticized by U.S. President Donald Trump for the harsh restrictions imposed on Michigan in the fight against Covid-19, and there have been demonstrations by right-wing groups in the state calling for the restrictions to be lifted.
Six detainees have been charged with conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer. They are identified as Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Thay Garbin, Caleb Frank, Daniel Harris and Brandon Castera.
Croft is from Delaware, and the rest are Michigan residents.
A report by an FBI agent said Fox said in June that he needed 200 men to invade the Michigan Capitol and seize hostages, including governors. Fox said what was recorded in the record.
“Fox explained that they would sue the governors for Michigan’s betrayal, and he said they would implement the plan before the November 2020 elections,” the report said.
If that failed, they planned to attack the governor at her house.
The accused have observed the governor’s holiday home and planned to attack police officers with Molotov cocktails and buy an electric shock device, explosives and tactical equipment.
In addition to the six accused of plotting the governor’s abduction, seven members of the right-wing Wolverine Watchmen have also been detained. They are suspected of trying to identify the residence addresses of law enforcement officers to attack them, said Michigan Chief Prosecutor Dana Nesele.
They also planned to attack the Michigan Capitol in Lansing and kidnap government officials, including Whitmer, Nesele said.
They have been charged with a number of charges, including gang membership and providing material support to terrorists, Nesele said.
Nesele said the defendants wanted to provoke a civil war.
–