Informant defends role during Whitmer kidnapping plot trial
2 years, 4 months ago

Informant defends role during Whitmer kidnapping plot trial

Associated Press  

Defense attorneys grilled an FBI informant Tuesday in the trial of two men accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan’s governor, questioning his motivation to get inside a band of anti-government extremists and the key steps he took to gather evidence. Dan Chappel was cross-examined for hours as lawyers pressed their theme that any 2020 scheme targeting Gretchen Whitmer was driven by agents and operatives, not marijuana-puffing rebels Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. Near the end of the day’s testimony, prosecutors summoned Ty Garbin, a star witness who agreed to cooperate shortly after his arrest and pleaded guilty. “I wanted to stop people from doing bad things to good people,” said Chappel, a 35-year-old trucker who hauls mail and was known as “Big Dan.” Fox and Croft are on trial for the second time on conspiracy charges. Gibbons said Chappel never urged Fox to choose legal ways beyond “domestic terrorism” to settle his differences with government. Trump recently called the kidnapping scheme a “fake deal.” ___ Find the AP’s full coverage of the kidnapping plot trial: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial

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History of this topic

Defense rests after challenging agents in Whitmer plot trial
2 years, 4 months ago

Defense rests after challenging agents in Whitmer plot trial

Associated Press  

Lawyers for two men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Blanchard also played audio of FBI agent Hank Impola telling an informant, “A saying we have in my office is, ‘Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.’” But on cross-examination, agent Corey Baumgardner agreed with a prosecutor who said Impola’s remark two months after …

Prosecutors rest their case against 2 men in Whitmer plot
2 years, 4 months ago

Prosecutors rest their case against 2 men in Whitmer plot

Associated Press  

Prosecutors rested their case Thursday against two men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan’s governor, shortly after an FBI agent who was working undercover in 2020 told jurors how a bridge played a role in the scheme. Timothy Bates, who was known as “Red,” said he participated in a night ride to Elk Rapids, Michigan, and encouraged Adam Fox to …

Witnesses say duo was eager to kidnap Michigan governor
2 years, 4 months ago

Witnesses say duo was eager to kidnap Michigan governor

Associated Press  

Two men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. And it’s creating a perception, I think, among the jurors that the court has a preference for how this case ends.” U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker defended his decision, saying there was no need for certain questions to be “teed up over and over again.” He complained about the trial’s pace …

Jury hears from key informant in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot
2 years, 4 months ago

Jury hears from key informant in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot

Associated Press  

A man charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Chappel participated in firearm drills, met privately with Fox in the basement of a Grand Rapids-area vacuum shop and made two trips with him to see Whitmer’s property in Elk Rapids. On a recording, Fox said they would pose as tourists on the first ride, “just checkin’ out pure Michigan, bro,” …

Jury in kidnap plot case hears about ride to Whitmer house
2 years, 4 months ago

Jury in kidnap plot case hears about ride to Whitmer house

Associated Press  

An FBI agent who was working undercover told jurors Friday that he accompanied two men on a night drive to see the Michigan governor’s vacation home, directly connecting the pair to a key step in an alleged plot to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. On the third day of testimony, Jonker also expressed frustration about the “ridiculous” pace of the …

Jury is told 2 men wanted to kidnap Whitmer, start revolt
2 years, 4 months ago

Jury is told 2 men wanted to kidnap Whitmer, start revolt

Associated Press  

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Two anti-government extremists sought to spark a “second American revolution” by kidnapping Michigan Gov. The steps included gun drills in a handmade “shoot house,” two rides to see Whitmer’s northern Michigan home and a stop at a nearby bridge where an explosive might be placed, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher O’Connor said. “They wanted to violently overthrow …

2 men face new trial over scheme to kidnap Michigan governor
2 years, 4 months ago

2 men face new trial over scheme to kidnap Michigan governor

Associated Press  

Two men accused of crafting a plan to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 and ignite a national rebellion are facing a second trial this week, months after a jury couldn’t reach a verdict on the pair while acquitting two others. “They’re going to try this all over again, and the government’s view is, ‘We’re going to prevail.’” Also …

In Whitmer plot case, was it violent political rhetoric or just ‘rough talk’?
2 years, 8 months ago

In Whitmer plot case, was it violent political rhetoric or just ‘rough talk’?

LA Times  

Michael Hills, the attorney for defendant Brandon Caserta, speaks to reporters after his client was found not guilty of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a defense lawyer said jurors saw the case as what it was: dirty FBI tactics and “rough talk.” The men didn’t say anything shocking, attorney Michael Hills said, though they were heard on audio …

Jury gets case of 4 men charged in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot
2 years, 8 months ago

Jury gets case of 4 men charged in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot

Associated Press  

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A prosecutor urged jurors Friday to convict four men in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Defense attorneys, meanwhile, panned the government’s case: One said the men were turned into “terrorists” by rogue investigators, while another pleaded with jurors to put the brakes on the FBI. Kessler said the group’s motive was to spark the “boogaloo,” …

Witness Testifies How Extremists Planned To Kidnap Gov. Whitmer
2 years, 9 months ago

Witness Testifies How Extremists Planned To Kidnap Gov. Whitmer

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING A man who pleaded guilty to planning a kidnapping of Michigan Gov. Ty Garbin talked about building a “shoot house” with wood, tarps and scrap materials to resemble Whitmer’s home so the men could practice an eventual assault in Elk Rapids. But Garbin’s testimony comes from someone who pleaded guilty and said he was a willing participant …

Informant gives key details about plot against Gov. Whitmer
2 years, 9 months ago

Informant gives key details about plot against Gov. Whitmer

Associated Press  

A group plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer talked about abducting her before the 2020 election because they believed she might join President Joe Biden’s administration and suddenly get extra security, an FBI informant testified Friday. In August 2020, less than two months before the FBI made arrests, Chappel said he was driving a pickup truck with Adam Fox …

FBI: Accused wanted ‘tyrant’ Gov. Whitmer tied up on table
2 years, 9 months ago

FBI: Accused wanted ‘tyrant’ Gov. Whitmer tied up on table

Associated Press  

A key figure in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told an undercover FBI agent that he wanted to restrain the “tyrant” on a table then pose for a photo “like we just made the biggest drug bust,” according to a secret recording played for jurors Thursday. Agent Mark Schweers told the jury that he was posing …

Snapshots of 4 men charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot
2 years, 9 months ago

Snapshots of 4 men charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot

Associated Press  

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — After more than two days of testimony, jurors have unflattering snapshots of four men who are charged with planning to strike back against government by kidnapping Michigan Gov. Fitness centers, he said, were “essential for a lot of people’s mental health.” In August 2020, according to the government, Fox scouted Whitmer’s cottage for the first time …

Snapshots of 4 men charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot
2 years, 9 months ago

Snapshots of 4 men charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot

Associated Press  

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — After more than two days of testimony, jurors have unflattering snapshots of four men who are charged with planning to strike back against government by kidnapping Michigan Gov. Fitness centers, he said, were “essential for a lot of people’s mental health.” In August 2020, according to the government, Fox scouted Whitmer’s cottage for the first time …

Lawyers: FBI lured men for Michigan Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot
2 years, 9 months ago

Lawyers: FBI lured men for Michigan Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot

Associated Press  

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The four men charged with planning to kidnap Michigan Gov. Investigators stepped in and stopped a “tragedy” when the men were planning to acquire a bomb to blow up a bridge near Whitmer’s home to stop police from quickly responding, Roth told jurors during his opening statement in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Roth said …

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