Inside the sick militia group who planned to kidnap and kill Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer
The far-right militia group who planned to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer were preparing for the “boogaloo”, a term used to describe an uprising against the government.
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The far-right militia group who planned to kidnap anti-Trump governor Gretchen Whitmer were planning for a civil war, the FBI have said.
The Wolverine Watchmen have been preparing for the “boogaloo”, a term used in the militia movement for an uprising against the government or impending civil war, say prosecutors.
Gov Whitmer has become the focus of anger for her strict enforcement of Michigan’s stay at home and lockdown measures.
Thirteen men – including seven associated with the militia – have now been arrested on charges of conspiring to kidnap the Michigan governor.
Social media accounts belonging to several them incite a “civil war” were a hive of pro-Trump, pro-gun and anti-government conspiracy theories.
According to the FBI the men planned to then move Ms Whitmer to a secure location in Wisconsin and put her on trial.
Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, Brandon Casert and Ty Garbin - from Michigan and Delaware - have been charged with plotting the kidnap.
Another seven - Paul Bellar, Shawn Fix, Eric Molitor, Michael Null, William Null, Pete Musico and Joseph Morrison face charges of terrorism and gang-related offences in state court in connection with the alleged abduction plot.
Musico, 42, the alleged founder of the militia group has posted a series of anti-government videos on YouTube, including railing against having to wear a seatbelt.
“When are you going to see they are taking our money from us? They are robbing us, wanting us to be like Venezuela?,” he said.
Caserta posted photos of himself rapidly loading a rifle, wearing a ‘F*** the government’ shirt.
He urged followers to “wake the f**k up” and warned “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance”, in a series of videos.
Prosecutors said the conspirators planned to recruit 200 supporters to storm the state capitol building in Lansing and take hostages - but later switched to a plan to kidnap Whitmer at her vacation home.
Fox said that he was going after Whitmer at the home.
“Snatch and grab, man. Grab the f**kin’ Governor. Just grab the b***h,” he said.
The FBI said surveillance for the kidnapping plot took place in August and September.
An undercover law enforcement source attended a meeting in Ohio where a group of Michigan-based militia members discussed overthrowing state governments.
They met in a basement that was accessed by a trapdoor hidden under a rug, the FBI says.
Their phones were gathered and placed in another room to avoid secret recordings but the undercover agent was wearing a separate recording device.
Four of the men had planned to meet Wednesday to make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear.
Fox, who was described as one of the leaders, was living in the basement of a vacuum shop in Grand Rapids and the owner says he kept firearms and ammunition there.
A property in Munith, Michigan, a rural area 110km east of Detroit, was allegedly used the area for militia training, the Daily Beast reports.
Neighbours said they heard shooting coming from a run-down property and suspected the people who visited were part of a militia because of high caliber rounds they fired off on weekends.
“They were mean,” one neighbour said.
“You knew they were involved with the militia. That was obvious from the constant shooting.”
After the kidnap plot was foiled, Ms Whitmer accused President Donald Trump of fomenting political extremism.
“When our leaders meet with, encourage and fraternise with domestic terrorists they legitimatize their actions, and they are complicit,” she said.
Mr Trump hit back on Twitter saying the governor “has done a terrible job”.
“My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced … today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist,” Mr Trump wrote.
WHO ARE THE WOLVERINE WATCHMEN?
The group takes its name from Michigan’s nickname, the Wolverine State.
Michigan has long been a hotbed of militia activity and they are fierce advocates of the Second Amendment - as well as the right to carry weapons in general.
The Sun reports that the Wolverine Watchmen doesn’t have much of an online presence.
It is not listed among the anti-government groups followed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist and hate groups.
The Anti-Defamation League, which also monitors extremist groups, has no mention of the Wolverine Watchmen on its website.
Militias sprang up in the aftermath of the Waco siege in 1993 when Federal agents were involved in a stand-off at a compound belonging to members of a millennial Christian sect.
The siege ended dramatically when fires consumed the compound, leaving some 75 people dead, including 25 children.
The authorities’ handling of the situation led to anti-government resentment and by spring 1995 almost every state had a militia group, says the ADL.
Many members of militia groups have been arrested since then, usually on weapons, explosives and conspiracy charges.
In May, armed militiamen gathered outside Michigan’s Capitol to rally against Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s pandemic executive orders.
FBI THWARTS PLOT TO KIDNAP GOVERNOR
The FBI has thwarted a plot by a Michigan militia group known as the Wolverine Watchmen to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer — and overthrow the state government.
The militia group plotted to assassinate Democrat Gov Whitmer, once regarded as a genuine chance of being Joe Biden’s running mate, and five others.
Michigan Attorney-General Dana Nessel said seven men tied to Wolverine Watchmen “made threats of violence intended to instigate a civil war and engaged in planning and training for an operation to attack the Capitol building of Michigan and kidnap government officials, including the governor.”
The men also tried to identify the home addresses of law enforcement officials so they could be targeted, Nessel said.
The men were arrested after they planned to meet to “make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear,” the FBI said in a court filing on Thursday US time.
It followed a series of raids after it emerged a plot was being hatched to storm the state’s Capitol Building and kidnap and kill the Governor.
“Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor,” an FBI agent said.
Gov Whitmer, who was criticised by Donald Trump for maintaining strict COVID lockdowns as he implored states to ease restrictions, said the president had “given comfort” to groups like the Wolverine Watchmen.
“Our head of state has spent the last seven months denying science, ignoring his own health experts, stoking distrust, fomenting anger and giving comfort to those that spread fear and hatred and division,” she said.
“Just last week the president of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups like these two Michigan militia groups.
“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry, a call to action.”
Earlier, it was revealed FBI agents wrote in their report: “Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor.”
“The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbours and spread their message.”
One of the men was accused of saying Whitmer “has no checks and balances at all. She has uncontrolled power right now.”
“All good things must come to an end,” the alleged plotter said.
Authorities revealed the existence of a shadowy militia group called the “Wolverine Watchmen” while detailing allegations against 13 men charged with plotting to kidnap Gov Whitmer and spark a civil war.
Michigan Attorney-General Dana Nessel said seven of the men — all of whom were in custody on state charges under Michigan’s Anti-Terrorism Act — were “linked to the militia group Wolverine Watchmen and associates of Wolverine Watchmen.”
The New York Post reported that the Wolverine Watchmen don’t appear to have any online presence and aren’t listed among 576 “extreme anti-government groups” identified as active during 2019 by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors American hate groups and other extremists.
According to a sworn FBI affidavit, an undercover law enforcement source attended a June meeting in Dublin, Ohio, where a group of Michigan-based militia members discussed overthrowing state governments “that they believed were violating the US Constitution”.
“Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor,” the charging document states.
Those arrested include Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris. Brandon Casert and Ty Garbin, whose home was raided by authorities on Wednesday.
Latest reports say 13 people have now been arrested.
The plot also included the militia co-ordinating surveillance on Whitmer’s vacation home and plans to blow up a nearby bridge to divert attention as they attempted to kidnap her.
The men allegedly plotted to abduct and kill Whitmer, as well as other political figures.
In early 2020, the FBI became aware through social media that a group of individuals were discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components, according to the criminal complaint obtained by Fox News.
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Among those individuals identified were Barry Croft and Adam Fox. Through electronic communications, Croft and Fox agreed to unite others in their cause and take violent action against multiple state governments that they believe are violating the US Constitution.
On June 6, 2020, Croft, Fox, and approximately 13 other people from several states gathered in Dublin, Ohio. The evidence set forth in the affidavit demonstrates probable cause to issue a criminal complaint charging Fox, Croft, as well as Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, and Brandon Caserta with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer.
During the arraignment, the state assistant lawyer general said the three men had credible plans to assassinate political figures. The FBI carried out at least two raids Wednesday night US time, which uncovered evidence to support the charges.