Militia group’s plot to kidnap Michigan governor revealed [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Evidence against “Wolverine Watchmen” militia group showed photos and videos of an attempted kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
• Defense lawyers argued that the group was just exercising their first amendment rights and there was no conspiracy.
• US Magistrate Judge Sally Berens said that the cases charged against the accused men could reach a grand jury.

According to recently released evidence, kidnappers planned to use an 800,000-volt taser against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and blow up a bridge to delay chasing police once they captured her.

A video shared by the US attorney’s office showed the 37-year-old Adam Fox, the alleged leader of the Wolverine Watchmen group, testing a taser they intend to use against the governor.

The video also showed several men who were carrying out what looked like tactical training exercises such as target shooting, quick reloading drills, and using a PT Cruiser.

A released photo also showed that Fox appears to be drawing a map of the lake near Whitmer’s vacation home, prosecutors said. He was also seen doing a mileage list of nearest police departments and estimated response times within the area.

The evidence also included SMS conversations among members through an encrypted app in a group chat titled F**Around and Find Out.

One member named Ty Garbin used symbols and emoticons, suggesting to blow up a bridge near Whitmer’s vacation home which would aim at halting the response team, prosecutors revealed.

Daniel Harris, 23, also an alleged mastermind, sent a message that says: “Laying in bed, craziest idea. Have one person go to her house. Knock on the door and when she answers it just cap her.”

This week, a two-day preliminary hearing in Grand Rapids featured testimony from one of the FBI agents who handled the investigation.

“Training for things like breaching a house, using improvised explosive devices, assaulting cars, exfiltration from cars, this is a lot of non-standard stuff that raised some flags,” Assistant US Attorney Nils Kessler told the court.

According to defense lawyers, the accused men were just practicing their first amendment rights to free speech and assembly, and that there was no conspiracy.

“It’s loose talk What has been done to show you that there was an actual agreement?” said attorney Scott Graham.

US Magistrate Judge Sally Berens, however, said that the cases of the five suspects could reach a grand jury which determines whether indictments would be issued. 

The videos and photos evidence paved the way for bringing the five accused plotters in court.

Source: The Sun