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Gretchen Whitmer: Three men cleared of plotting to kidnap governor
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Leroy N. Soetoro
Sep 21, 2023, 4:00:25 PM9/21/23
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66814555
A jury in the US state of Michigan has acquitted three men of involvement
in a plot to kidnap the state's governor.
William Null, Michael Null and Eric Molitor were found not guilty of
providing support for a terrorist act and a weapons charge.
They were among 14 accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor
Gretchen Whitmer from her holiday home in 2020.
Nine men have been convicted or pleaded guilty, and two others were
previously acquitted.
Prosecutors say the plot was motivated by rumours that the 2020
presidential election would be stolen and opposition to Covid-19
restrictions imposed by Ms Whitmer's administration.
The group, which included members of the Wolverine Watchmen militia,
planned to stage a "trial" of the governor for treason and hoped the
kidnapping would spark a larger conflict.
Ringleaders Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr were convicted of kidnapping
conspiracy last year. Fox was sentenced to 16 years in prison while Croft
was handed a sentence of 19 years and 7 months. Joseph Morrison, the
leader of the Wolverine Watchmen, was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in
prison.
But the jury acquitted the Nulls and Mr Molitor, who were the last to
stand trial in connection with the case, after a three-week trial in
Antrim County in northern Michigan, site of Ms Whitmer's holiday home.
During closing arguments on Wednesday, prosecutor William Rollstin said
the men "hated their government" and "were willing to go to war".
Prosecutors said the Nulls - who are twin brothers - and Mr Molitor
participated in military-style drills and travelled to Ms Whitmer's
holiday home, where they shot a reconnaissance video.
In testimony, Mr Molitor and William Null admitted they had attended
drills and travelled to the holiday home. But the defence argued that the
trio were scared off when talk turned to violence and did not support the
plot. Mr Molitor said Fox, one of the organisers, was "incredibly dumb"
and would not pull off a kidnapping.
In closing arguments Mr Molitor's attorney, William Barnett, said that
prosecution case was "weak".
"They're here pulling the shortcuts to try to get somebody convicted, an
innocent person," he said.
The defendants gasped with relief and sobbed as the verdicts were read
out, then embraced their supporters in the courtroom.
After the verdict Mr Barnett told local reporters: "These charges
shouldn't have been brought and justice has been served."
Undercover FBI agents had monitored the group for months before arrests
were made in October 2020, a month before that year's presidential
election.
The plot was never carried out, and Ms Whitmer was not harmed.
The case became a significant talking point during the 2020 election over
the threat posed by domestic terror groups. Ms Whitmer was criticised by
Donald Trump and conservatives for imposing a Covid lockdown in Michigan
in spring 2020. In late April of that year, armed protesters entered the
Michigan state capitol building.
"Today's verdict is disappointing," Ms Whitmer's chief of staff JoAnne
Hulls said in a statement. "A not guilty verdict on the plot to kidnap and
kill Governor Whitmer in hopes of starting a civil war will further
encourage and embolden radical extremists trying to sow discord and harm
public officials or law enforcement."
But Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, whose office prosecuted the
case, said the previous convictions of other members of the group "sends a
clear message that acts of domestic terrorism will not be tolerated in our
state".
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
A jury in the US state of Michigan has acquitted three men of involvement
in a plot to kidnap the state's governor.
William Null, Michael Null and Eric Molitor were found not guilty of
providing support for a terrorist act and a weapons charge.
They were among 14 accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor
Gretchen Whitmer from her holiday home in 2020.
Nine men have been convicted or pleaded guilty, and two others were
previously acquitted.
Prosecutors say the plot was motivated by rumours that the 2020
presidential election would be stolen and opposition to Covid-19
restrictions imposed by Ms Whitmer's administration.
The group, which included members of the Wolverine Watchmen militia,
planned to stage a "trial" of the governor for treason and hoped the
kidnapping would spark a larger conflict.
Ringleaders Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr were convicted of kidnapping
conspiracy last year. Fox was sentenced to 16 years in prison while Croft
was handed a sentence of 19 years and 7 months. Joseph Morrison, the
leader of the Wolverine Watchmen, was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in
prison.
But the jury acquitted the Nulls and Mr Molitor, who were the last to
stand trial in connection with the case, after a three-week trial in
Antrim County in northern Michigan, site of Ms Whitmer's holiday home.
During closing arguments on Wednesday, prosecutor William Rollstin said
the men "hated their government" and "were willing to go to war".
Prosecutors said the Nulls - who are twin brothers - and Mr Molitor
participated in military-style drills and travelled to Ms Whitmer's
holiday home, where they shot a reconnaissance video.
In testimony, Mr Molitor and William Null admitted they had attended
drills and travelled to the holiday home. But the defence argued that the
trio were scared off when talk turned to violence and did not support the
plot. Mr Molitor said Fox, one of the organisers, was "incredibly dumb"
and would not pull off a kidnapping.
In closing arguments Mr Molitor's attorney, William Barnett, said that
prosecution case was "weak".
"They're here pulling the shortcuts to try to get somebody convicted, an
innocent person," he said.
The defendants gasped with relief and sobbed as the verdicts were read
out, then embraced their supporters in the courtroom.
After the verdict Mr Barnett told local reporters: "These charges
shouldn't have been brought and justice has been served."
Undercover FBI agents had monitored the group for months before arrests
were made in October 2020, a month before that year's presidential
election.
The plot was never carried out, and Ms Whitmer was not harmed.
The case became a significant talking point during the 2020 election over
the threat posed by domestic terror groups. Ms Whitmer was criticised by
Donald Trump and conservatives for imposing a Covid lockdown in Michigan
in spring 2020. In late April of that year, armed protesters entered the
Michigan state capitol building.
"Today's verdict is disappointing," Ms Whitmer's chief of staff JoAnne
Hulls said in a statement. "A not guilty verdict on the plot to kidnap and
kill Governor Whitmer in hopes of starting a civil war will further
encourage and embolden radical extremists trying to sow discord and harm
public officials or law enforcement."
But Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, whose office prosecuted the
case, said the previous convictions of other members of the group "sends a
clear message that acts of domestic terrorism will not be tolerated in our
state".
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
Jeffrey Rubard
Nov 4, 2023, 5:21:13 PM11/4/23
to
On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 1:00:25 PM UTC-7, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:
> https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66814555
>
> A jury in the US state of Michigan has acquitted three men of involvement
> in a plot to kidnap the state's governor.
"Were you one of them?" #hahajustkidding
> https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66814555
>
> A jury in the US state of Michigan has acquitted three men of involvement
> in a plot to kidnap the state's governor.
Jeffrey Rubard
Nov 18, 2023, 5:31:59 PM11/18/23
to
Jeffrey Rubard
Nov 19, 2023, 2:10:34 PM11/19/23
to
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 7, 2023, 11:39:47 AM12/7/23
to
Actually! I haven't been back since I moved away in 1986.
"That long ago?"
My life is 'glacial', man.
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 9, 2023, 11:19:24 AM12/9/23
to
People explaining 'every little thing' are often caught up in mundane (and, truth be told, stupidly irrelevant) details like that.
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 11, 2023, 11:33:23 AM12/11/23
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It's a candid, accurate statement of fact, if that's what you mean.
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 12, 2023, 11:29:33 AM12/12/23
to
I don't know? Anyhow, I haven't been back there since 1986.
(So, not during Whitmer's governorship, or anything like that.)
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 12, 2023, 4:48:29 PM12/12/23
to
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 14, 2023, 3:20:46 PM12/14/23
to
"People are like that, though. But you wouldn't know what you were talking about, yeah."
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 16, 2023, 11:43:45 AM12/16/23
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No, I did, on the other side of the Lower Peninsula from Detroit Metro.
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 16, 2023, 4:58:22 PM12/16/23
to
With the Battle Creek/Kalamazoo area? You would be.
Jeffrey Rubard
Dec 19, 2023, 5:55:41 PM12/19/23
to
Yeah, yeah, guy, point taken, sure, hah hah, etc.
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