Three Men Found Not Guilty in Recent Trial Connected to Conspiracy to Abduct Governor Whitmer

Jury Acquits Men in Trial Linked to Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

In a significant turn of events, a jury has acquitted three men who were facing charges in connection with a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. This scheme, which was portrayed as an example of homegrown terrorism on the eve of the 2020 presidential election, has garnered widespread attention and raised concerns about the safety of public officials.

The men who were acquitted are William Null, his twin brother Michael Null, and Eric Molitor. They were found not guilty of providing support for a terrorist act and a weapon charge. These three individuals were the last of 14 men to face charges in state or federal court, and while nine were convicted, five have now been cleared of any wrongdoing.

According to the allegations, the Nulls and Molitor were accused of supporting the leaders of the kidnapping plan by participating in military-style drills and traveling to see Governor Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan. The key players in the plot, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., were convicted of a kidnapping conspiracy last year in federal court.

The recent trial took place in Antrim County, the location of Governor Whitmer’s lakeside property. The jury heard 14 days of testimony before reaching their verdicts. Gasps filled the courtroom as the jury foreperson announced the not guilty verdicts for each brother and then Molitor. Deliberations began on Thursday morning and lasted a few more hours on Friday. The men were visibly emotional as they hugged their lawyers and supporters upon hearing the verdicts.

Defense attorney William Barnett revealed that a juror approached Molitor outside the courthouse and expressed remorse for what he had gone through. The juror shook Molitor’s hand and gave him a hug. Jurors privately informed the judge that the evidence did not support the charge of “material support” for a kidnapping plot, which was a key phrase in the charge.

The plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer began to take shape during a regional summit of anti-government extremists in Dublin, Ohio, in the summer of 2020. The defendants, along with an FBI informant, were present at the gathering, where violence against public officials was discussed and secretly recorded.

Throughout the trial, jurors were shown images of the Null brothers and Molitor carrying guns and wearing body armor during state Capitol protests in 2020. However, it was emphasized that these actions were not illegal.

The verdicts were met with disappointment from Governor Whitmer’s chief of staff, JoAnne Huls, who expressed concern that they would embolden radical extremists. State Attorney General Dana Nessel also expressed her disappointment in a written statement.

During the trial, Molitor and William Null testified in their own defense. Molitor admitted to attending gun drills and recording a brief video of Governor Whitmer’s house but maintained that he did not believe Fox would carry out a kidnapping. William Null stated that he and his brother distanced themselves from the plot when talk turned to obtaining explosives.

Prosecutor William Rollstin urged the jurors during closing arguments not to be swayed and emphasized that any form of assistance in planning or preparation would satisfy the element of the crime. Michael Null did not testify, and his lawyer chose not to question any witnesses during the trial, defending his client’s innocence.

Despite the mixed results for prosecutors, with five acquittals in state or federal court, former U.S. attorney Patrick Miles believed that these cases needed to be brought forth due to the dangerous nature of such threats to democracy.

After the plot was foiled, Governor Whitmer blamed then-President Donald Trump for providing comfort to those who spread fear and hatred. Trump, who is no longer in office, dismissed the kidnapping plan as a “fake deal” in 2022.

The acquittals in this trial mark a significant development in the aftermath of the plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. The case has highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety of public officials and addressing the rise of domestic terrorism threats in the United States.

Original Story at www.nbcnews.com – 2023-09-17 00:34:00