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US President Donald Trump criticized Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for not saying ‘thank you’ after the US government accused six people of conspiring to kidnap her in an alleged domestic terror plot.
Seven additional individuals also face state charges under Michigan counterterrorism law in connection with the alleged plot.
Authorities said the arrested men have ties to a group of far-right militias, who were unhappy, in part, about Whitmer’s Covid-19 restrictions, calling it a “tyrant.”
Whitmer “has done a terrible job. She closed her state to everyone except her husband’s boating activities. The federal government was a great help to the great people of Michigan,” Trump tweeted.
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* 13 accused of conspiracy to attack the Michigan state government and kidnap its governor.
He continued: “My Justice Department and the Federal Police announced” that they “foiled a dangerous plot” against Whitmer and “Instead of thanking, she calls me a white supremacist.
State of Michigan / AP
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer accused Donald Trump of emboldening the hate group that conspired to kidnap her.
Speaking Thursday (NZT Friday) during a press conference, Whitmer thanked law enforcement and prosecutors for foiling the plot and filing criminal charges “to bring these sick and depraved men to justice.”
He criticized Trump saying that he has not done enough to condemn hate groups “like these two Michigan militia groups” in the country and accused him of “stoking mistrust”, “fomenting anger” and emboldening groups that “They spread fear, hatred and division.”
Authorities say the 13 men arrested this week in the kidnapping plot are all members or acquaintances of the militia group Wolverine Watchmen. In addition, all have been linked to a larger plan, which tries to foment a civil war, according to the researchers.
Members of the group had discussed storming the Capitol building to kidnap Whitmer and other possible hostages, considered shooting at Whitmer’s home, discussed detonating a bomb to divert police from the kidnapping, according to officials, who also said the men they tested an explosive and began training to achieve those ends.
During the press conference, Whitmer, who often clashes with Trump, resurfaced the comments of the president of the United States during the first presidential debate when Trump told the Proud Boys group to “stand back and stay out of it.”
“The hate groups heard the president’s words not as a reprimand but as a rallying cry, as a call to action,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer continued: “When our leader speaks, his words matter. They carry weight. When our leaders meet, encourage or fraternize with national terrorists, they legitimize their actions and are complicit. When they fuel and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit.”
Trump said Thursday (Friday NZT) on Twitter that he “does not tolerate ANY extreme violence. Standing up for ALL Americans, even those who oppose and attack me, is what I will always do as your president! Governor Whitmer: Open your state , open your schools and open your churches! “
Evan Vucci / AP
US President Donald Trump responded to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, saying that he is doing a “terrible job.”
Appearing on CNN on Thursday (Friday NZT), ahead of Trump’s tweets, Whitmer said she asked Republicans in her state and the White House to lower the level of inflammatory rhetoric that she said helped start the alleged plot. against her.
“We know that every time this White House identifies or shoots me, we see an increase in rhetoric online, violent rhetoric, so there is always a connection and it is certainly something that we have been observing. But this took it to a level. brand new, “said the governor.
Trump returned to the subject during an interview with Fox News after sending her tweets Thursday night (Friday NZT), saying, “It was my Justice Department that arrested” the men, “but instead she goes and does her small political act “.
Democratic candidate Joe Biden said in a statement that there is a “direct line” from Trump’s “tolerance of hatred, revenge and anarchy” to the plot against Whitmer.
In early April, just weeks after nationwide restrictions on defending against the coronavirus, Trump tweeted “LIBERATE MICHIGAN,” along with other states in apparent opposition to the governor’s orders to stay home.
The former vice president said “That call was heard”, and the alleged kidnapping plan is “the kind of twisted plot we expect from ISIS, but now it’s here at home.”
