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Ms Whitmer’s coronavirus executive orders sparked controversy in Michigan
The FBI says it has foiled a plot to kidnap and overthrow the Democratic Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.
Ms. Whitmer has become a target of coronavirus skeptics after enacting strict mitigation measures that were overturned by a judge last week.
Authorities say the kidnapping plot involved six men who planned to carry out a “treason trial” for her. Ms. Whitmer’s office has yet to comment.
In May, armed protesters opposed to the lockdown stormed the state capitol.
- Armed protesters from lockdown at Michigan state house
According to an FBI affidavit, an undercover law enforcement source attended a meeting in June in Dublin, Ohio, where a group of Michigan-based militiamen discussed the overthrow of state governments “who believed they were violating the US Constitution. United States”.
“Several members spoke about assassinating ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ an acting governor,” the indictment document says.
Those arrested include Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, Brandon Casert and Ty Garbin, whose home was raided by authorities Wednesday.
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The group wanted to muster about “200 men” to storm the capitol building and take hostages, including the governor. They hoped to put their plan into action before the November presidential election. If that failed, they planned to attack the governor at her home, authorities say.
The defendants “coordinated the surveillance of the governors’ vacation home,” the federal prosecutor for the Western District of Michigan said, adding that they also planned Molotov cocktail attacks on police officers, bought a taser pistol and collected their funds to purchase explosives and tactical equipment.
The men, five of whom are from Michigan and one from Delaware, allegedly planned to carry out a “treason trial” against Ms. Whitmer.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said that in addition to the kidnapping charges, several members of the “gluttonous vigilantes” militia will be charged with gang affiliation and providing material support to terrorists. Ms Nessel said that members of the militia expected to start a civil war.
Members of the militia conducted weapons training in various states and at times attempted to create defective bombs, the FBI says, adding that their training was captured on video.
Numerous violent incidents have been linked to citizen militia groups in the United States in recent years. The adherents, who are often white men, sometimes brandish weapons during protests.
