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The FBI (United States Federal Police) announced on Thursday (8) the arrest of 13 people involved in armed militias planning to kidnap the state governor make Michigan a democrat Gretchen Whitmer. One of the dismantled plans also aimed to break into the headquarters of state government and the homes of local authorities.
According to the police investigation, the group had characteristics of an armed militia: They planned the action for months, with training and weapons purchases. The defendants also intended to “instigate a civil war,” according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nassel.
First, US officials announced the arrest of six of the defendants Wednesday night, the date they planned to meet to pay for the explosives purchased for the lawsuit against the governor, the FBI reported.
This group planned to kidnap Whitmer from inside a Democrat’s summer home. According to the FBI investigation, the defendants wanted to remove the governor from office because she has “uncontrolled powers.” The plan also included a “treason trial” against the Democrat.
Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, the seat of state government, in a Sept. 17 photo – Photo: Rebecca Cook / Reuters
Then on Thursday afternoon, police announced that seven other people had been arrested for a plot that planned to break into the Michigan seat of government and kidnap officials, including the governor.
Local officials said that if found guilty, Members of these militias can face life in prison.. According to the investigation, they planned the attack before November 3, the date of the US presidential elections.
For prosecutor Andrew Binge, the group that planned the kidnapping is made up of “violent extremists”. Another prosecutor, Matthew Schneider, also condemned the violence.
“All of us here in Michigan may disagree on politics, but those disagreements can never, never escalate to violence,” Schneider said, according to the Associated Press.
Pandemic measures sparked protests
Armed group in front of the Michigan governor’s office protests against social isolation on Thursday (30) – Photo: Seth Herald / Reuters
Whitmer adopted in April, with the support of Democratic lawmakers, isolation measures to contain the advance of the new coronavirus in the state at a time of high contagion in the United States. With a divided society, part praised the governor’s decisions, but other residents protested the cessation of activities and restrictions on movement.
On April 30, hundreds of protesters: some armed with rifles – protested in the Michigan Capitol against the isolation measures supported by the Democratic government. According to the NBC broadcaster, state law allows people to carry firearms provided that “for causes within the law” and that the bearer keeps the weapon visible.
