The radical right-wing group wanted to “take” the governor of Virginia too – VG

It emerged during a court hearing in connection with the trial against the arrested members of “Wolverine Watchmen”

FBI Agent Richard Trask testified Tuesday that the group also discussed “taking” Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, writes the Washington Post.

This was discussed at a meeting in Ohio a few months ago, according to the FBI agent.

“At this meeting, the possible goals, to take an acting governor, specifically discussed issues with the governors of Michigan and Virginia based on shutdown orders,” he said, according to the newspaper.

Accuses Trump of inciting violence

Six people from the group were arrested last week by the FBI for conspiring to kidnap the Democratic Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam came under fire earlier this year for strict crown restrictions and for introducing gun restrictions.

In a series of Twitter messages in April, President Donald Trump took a hard line against the Democratic states of Virginia, Michigan and Minnesota. He called for the release of the states:

“Free Virginia and save your wonderful Supplement to the Second Constitution. It is under siege!”he wrote in one of the messages on Twitter.

Whitmer herself said that she believes the kidnapping plans were related to the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump. According to CNN, Northam Press Secretary Alena Yarmosky points to April’s Twitter messages and says:

– The president actually regularly encourages violence against those who disagree with him. The rhetoric coming out of your White House has serious and life-threatening consequences.

According to ABC-affiliated television channel 8News, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responds:

– President Trump has continually condemned white power and all forms of hatred. Governor Whitmer, and now Governor Northam, sow division by making these ludicrous accusations.

– Radical anti-government forces

Wolverine Watchmen is a new addition to the many small military cells in the United States.

– They are radical anti-government forces and they are a small group. They use social networks like Facebook to get around. There has been a lot of activity on the pages lately, researcher Cathrine Thorleifsson from the Extremism Research Center at the University of Oslo told VG earlier.

The group’s plan is said to have been to forcibly remove Michigan Governor Whitmer from her own vacation home before the November 3 US presidential election.

In addition to the six who have been arrested for planning the kidnapping, seven others are charged with plans to attack the police and the state assembly in Michigan, where they would take hostages, among other things, and create a civil war.