During a media briefing in Lansing, FBI, Department of Justice, the Michigan Attorney General and Michigan State Police representatives outlined the plan of six militia members to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer from her vacation home in Western Michigan.
In a separate action, the state Attorney General is charging seven people, all in custody, with a variety of felonies relating to targeting law enforcement officials, trying to start a civil war and plotting to take over the state capitol.
The timeline of their actions corresponds with President Trump’s tweet in mid-April for people to “liberate Michigan.” While some of the organization happened before the tweet, the plan was fasttracked after the tweet.
LIBERATE MICHIGAN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
The six individuals suspected of plotting to kidnap Witmer are Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, and Brandon Caserta. Croft is a resident of Delaware; the others are residents of Michigan.
The suspects used encrypted apps and codewords to try to hide their intent. Fox bought a taser for use during the kidnapping. The group undertook at least two surveillance operations of the vacation home to plan their conspiracy.
Fox and Croft discussed exploding devices to draw law enforcement away from the vacation home. Fox suggested exploding a device on the support of a highway bridge as a diversion, and they exploded test devices to examine anti-personnel damage.
The six met to pool funds to buy supplies and equipment for the plot. They approached other militia groups to gauge interest in helping with the plot.
In a separate case, the state is filing charges against seven Michiganders who are members of the militia Wolverine Watchmen suspected of identifying the homes of law enforcement officials to undertake attacks, intending to start a civil war, and intending to violently overtake the state capitol. They were indicted with charges including gang membership, carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony, providing materials intended for terrorist acts, and a threat of terrorism.