Three Men Acquitted in Final Trial Connected to Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Three men have been acquitted in the final trial related to a scheme to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The pandemic-era plot, fueled by extremist politics and domestic terrorism, resulted in the imprisonment of several others. William Null, his twin brother Michael Null, and Eric Molitor were found not guilty of providing support for a terrorist act and a weapons charge by a jury in Antrim County, northern Michigan.
The three individuals were accused of scouting Whitmer’s vacation home for other members of a rightwing militia who planned to abduct her. The anger stemmed from the governor’s 2020 Covid-19 lockdown measures and perceived threats to gun ownership rights. They were the last of 14 men to face charges in state or federal court. Nine others were convicted, including the plot’s co-leaders Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr, who were sentenced to 16 years and 19 years respectively.
The 14-day trial, held in the same county where Whitmer’s vacation home is located, brought back memories of one of the darkest periods in Michigan’s history. In 2020, armed militia mobs roamed the state capitol, anti-government protesters caused gridlock, and the statehouse was breached. The plot to kidnap Whitmer emerged as a result of these protests, with Molitor and the Null brothers participating in military-style drills and surveilling the governor’s home.
Authorities revealed that the details of the plot were discussed at a regional summit of anti-government extremists in Dublin, Ohio, in the summer of 2020. The summit was attended by Fox, Croft, and William Null, and an undercover FBI informant recorded their profanity-laced threats of violence against public officials.
The plot was further fueled by government-imposed restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, as evidenced by recordings, text messages, and social media posts presented in court. During the trial, Molitor and William Null admitted to attending gun drills and surveilling Whitmer’s property. However, they distanced themselves when talk turned to obtaining explosives. Molitor described Fox as “incredibly dumb” and doubted his ability to carry out the kidnapping.
Michael Null, on the other hand, did not testify, and his lawyer chose not to question any witnesses during the trial. The defense argued that Michael Null had done nothing wrong. Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, issued a statement acknowledging the verdict but emphasized that the ringleaders of the plot had already been convicted.
Informants and undercover FBI agents had infiltrated the group for months before the arrests were made in October 2020. Fortunately, Whitmer was not physically harmed. Overall, nine men were previously convicted, either through guilty pleas or at three other trials, while two others were acquitted.
After the plot was foiled, Whitmer placed blame on then-President Donald Trump, accusing him of providing comfort to those who spread fear, hatred, and division. The acquittal of the three men brings an end to the legal proceedings surrounding this disturbing plot, sending a clear message that acts of domestic terrorism will not be tolerated in Michigan.
Original Story at www.theguardian.com – 2023-09-15 15:57:00
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