2020 race: Trump embroiled in controversy over plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Governor says Donald Trump ‘complicit’ in encouraging far right hate groups as six charged with plotting to kidnap her.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, left, and US President Donald Trump

The Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, has accused Donald Trump of being “complicit” in encouraging far right hate groups after six men were charged with plotting to kidnap her.

She made the accusation after the FBI revealed an extraordinary plot by a militia group to storm the Michigan capitol building with explosives and kidnap the Governor and try her for “treason”.

The FBI says the group, which also surveilled her holiday home, saw the Governor as an “uncontrolled power” and had talked about murdering “tyrants” or “taking a sitting governor”.

“The group talked about creating a society that followed the US Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient,” the FBI said.

Ms Whitmer thanked the FBI for intercepting the plot, saying the “sick and depraved men” would face justice.

But Ms Whitman, a Democrat, blamed the president for creating the atmosphere for domestic terrorism in the US by refusing to condemn hate groups.

“When our leaders … stoke and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit,’ she said in a press conference after the FBI revealed the plot.

“Just last week the president of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacist and hate groups like these two Michigan militia groups,’ the 49-year-old Whitmer said.

A person cleans up debris from a broken window at a home FBI agents searched in Hartland Township mobile home park in connection of a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Picture: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP

“Stand back and stand by, he told them. Stand back and stand by. Hate groups used the president’s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry. As a call to action.’

“When our leaders speak, their words matter, they carry weight.’

The Trump campaign hit back at Ms Whitmer’s decision to use the plot to attack the president during the middle of an election campaign.

“We’re all united standing against anyone who would conspire to cause such hatred and violence. And there is no place for that in American society in any way, shape, or form.”

‘Disgusting attack’: Trump camp

Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller said. “But why Governor Whitmer would go and start attacking President Trump, this is just — people can see right through it. They can see that Governor Whitmer is a complete phony and it is just disgusting that she would take a moment of unity to attack the President.”

Mr Trump and Ms Whitmer have frequently clashed, with the president calling her ‘that woman from Michigan.’

The president believes the Governor locked down the Michigan economy for too long despite the coronavirus pandemic. After armed protesters entered the Capitol building in Lansing in April, Mr Trump tweeted “Liberate Michigan.’

Michigan, a key swing state in the coming election, was hit hard early in the pandemic losing more than 7000 people in a population of ten million.

Second debate in turmoil

Meanwhile the US election campaign was thrown into turmoil after Mr Trump said he would not participate in the second debate in Miami next week after the Commission on Presidential Debates said it would be a virtual debate because of the health risks associated with the president having COVID-19.

“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate, that’s not what debating is all about. You sit behind a computer and do a debate — it’s ridiculous,’ Mr Trump said.

The Biden campaign said: “Joe Biden was prepared to accept the CPD’s proposal for a virtual Town Hall, but the President has refused, as Donald Trump clearly does not want to face questions from voters about his failures on COVID and the economy.”

Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, who also has COVID-19, said “As President Trump said, a virtual debate is a non-starter and would clearly be a gift to Biden because he would be relying on his teleprompter from his basement bunker,” Mr Stepien said. “Voters should have the opportunity to directly question Biden’s 47-year failed record of leadership.”

Later in the day, the Trump campaign supported an offer by the Biden campaign to delay the second debate of October 15 by one week to October 22 so the candidates could be together in person.

However the Trump campaign said it still wanted to hold a third debate and proposed October 29, less than a week before the November 3 election.

I’m back: Trump’s Covid recovery

Meanwhile Mr Trump’s doctors said he continues to recover well from COVID-19 and told them on Friday (AEDT) that he was ‘feeling great.’

The doctors said the president had not had a fever for four days and had displayed no Covid symptoms for more than 24 hours.

In a new video from the White House lawn, Mr Trump sent a message to senior citizens promising that they would have access to exactly the same cocktail of medicine that he was given which he claimed had cured him of the virus.

“I’m back because I am a perfect physical specimen and I’m extremely young. And so I’m lucky in that way,” the 74 year old Mr Trump said in an interview on Friday.

By contrast, he claimed: “Biden won’t be president for two months. He’s not mentally capable.”

Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia