Two Convicted in Plot to Kidnap Mich. Gov.

Facts

• A federal jury in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Tues. convicted Adam Fox and Barry Croft. Jr. of conspiring to kidnap Mich. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and obtain a weapon of mass destruction. Croft was also convicted on a second explosives charge.
• Prosecutors say the men, arrested in Oct. 2020, were angry at what they considered overly restrictive COVID policies. Their plan, which they began plotting in June 2020, included abducting Whitmer from her vacation home, blowing up a bridge, and - they hoped - sparking a second Civil War.
• The defense accused the FBI, with their system of informants and undercover agents, of entrapping the men after hearing them voice their displeasure with the government.
• Fox and Croft face life in prison at sentencing.
• The DOJ previously failed to convict Fox and Croft in an April trial, with the jury deadlocking the charges. In that trial, defendants Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were acquitted on all charges and defendants Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty and testified for the prosecution. They also testified in the second trial.

Sources: PBS News Hour, Washington Post, and New York Post.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by Detroit News. This conspiracy serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of domestic terrorism in the US. The convictions, however, have proved that violence and threats have no place in American politics. Now more must be done to address the root causes through new policy approaches, strong leadership and dedicated attention.
• Republican narrative, as provided by PJ Media. The real conspiracy here was carried out by the FBI, who might have used as many as 12 informants or undercover agents to frame these men. US District Judge Robert Jonker also played his part, showing his bias by limiting the amount of time the defense had to cross examine witnesses.