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FBI AGENTS HAVE foiled a stunning plot to kidnap Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in reaction to what a group viewed as her “uncontrolled power”, authorities said.
Six men were charged in federal court, while seven others accused of trying to target police and the state Capitol were charged in state court.
“All of us in Michigan can disagree about politics, but those disagreements should never, ever amount to violence. Violence has been prevented today,” Detroit US Attorney Matthew Schneider told reporters.
The six men charged in federal court plotted for months, consulting and training with members of a group that federal authorities described as a militia, and undertaking rehearsals in August and September, according to an FBI affidavit.
Four planned to meet on Wednesday to “make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear”, the FBI said in the court filing.
The FBI quoted one of the accused as saying Gov Whitmer “has no checks and balances at all. She has uncontrolled power right now. All good things must come to an end”.
The six men charged in federal court were arrested last night and face up to life in prison if convicted. They were due in court today.
Andrew Birge, the US attorney in western Michigan, called them “violent extremists”.
Whitmer has been praised but also deeply criticised for the state’s response to the coronavirus.
She put major restrictions on personal movement throughout the state and on the economy, although many of those limits have been lifted.
.@MIAttyGen @dananessel is joined by the @FBI, DOJ, @MichStatePolice today in Lansing to announce details of a major operation.
— Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (@MIAttyGen) October 8, 2020
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/aDkTqW7Jtm… pic.twitter.com/fCBV3HoHpF
The Michigan Supreme Court last week said a 1945 law used as the foundation for many of the governor’s orders is unconstitutional.
The government said the plot against Whitmer was stopped with the work of undercover agents and informants.
Through electronic communications, two of the alleged conspirators “agreed to unite others in their cause and take violent action against multiple state governments that they believe are violating the US Constitution”, the FBI said.
The criminal complaint identified the six as Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, Brandon Caserta, all of Michigan, and Barry Croft of Delaware.
Fox said he needed 200 men to storm the Capitol building in Lansing and take hostages, including the governor, according to the FBI.
He said he wanted to try Whitmer for “treason” and would execute the plan before the November 3 election, the government said. The group later shifted to targeting the governor’s holiday home, the FBI said.
The government said the scheme appeared to have roots in a June gathering in Dublin, Ohio, attended by more than a dozen people from several states, including Croft and Fox.
“The group talked about creating a society that followed the US Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient,” the FBI affidavit said.
“They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavours to violent actions… Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor.”
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And people give out about the EU
It’s the only game in town as far as democracy goes.
Bar canada nz and australia
@The Grand Nagus: The EU is streets ahead. We take for granted what a working democracy looks like. As well as that the EU is dealing remarkably well with its location and the immigration issues it faces. It still remains very peaceful, despite a few extreme groups who are not run from the EU and who are losing power there. March 2020 was the first time the US didn’t have a school shooting in that month since 2002 which says it all.
@The Grand Nagus: how are unelected EU bodies democratic? How was rerunning a legitimate referendum here because the EU didn’t like the result democratic?
@Sara Davis: you do know changes were made before the second referendum, right?
@Sara Davis: Comprehension of democracy is not one of your strengths. It is obvious you don’t know what you are talking about. Repeating the nonsense of others is silly.
Different horses for different courses they say. Dressing up and taking delight in the torture and ripping to shreds of wild animals is not something the EU stands for. Perhaps if they were you would have a different view.
Americans are edging towards civil war. It’s getting more polarised bu the month over there. Scary times.
@Ted Logan: top republican now even saying America isn’t about democracy.
It’s going down a very dark path.
@Ted Logan: last days for these very old wrinkley WASPs and they know they have hoards of gun toting rednecks and right wing radicals ready to fight for them.
@Ted Logan: in fairness this was caused by coronavirus restrictions and the laws they had a problem with have been shown to be wrongly used in the first place.
Michigan Supreme Court last week said a 1945 law used as the foundation for many of the governor’s orders is unconstitutional.
Hopefully this is pandemic induced mania and not a sign of civil war.
But The Democrats and BLM have been looked to do that for months now.
What difference is there to what this group wanted and Seattle’s activist-occupied zone?
America is rapidly becoming a no go area. Another 4 years of Tweedledums antics and the country will be the pits.
Very fine people as a certain someone will probably say
Incoming antifa whataboutery in 5….
@DJ François:
Well they are a shower of Marxists wonnabees
@DJ François: As bad as the ANTFA fanatics are, this goes far beyond even them. This was plot by extremists of the Right. That they would even consider kidnapping and murder to achieve a political aim, places them on par with the likes of Boko Haram, AQ and ISIS. They too use those tactics.
@Mick.: ANTIFA is an ideology. There are no such things as radical antifa groups or terrorist acts.
@DJ François: I’d say the people who don’t like Antifa and their tactics would also have a problem with radicals on the right too.
Political extremism is bad on both sides.
This is on another level though. Lucky the FBI fought them.
@Winston Smith: *caught
@Winston Smith: imagine the tweets from Trump tonight if it had been activists associated with Black Lives Matter that were plotting to kidnap a United States Governor.
@Mick.: Right and left extremists are chips of the same block, the only difference is the arm they use to bring their ridiculous salutes. If you leave them at it both roads lead to the same destination; a mountain of corpses, destruction and misery. Hitler and Stalin; spot the difference.
Welcome to Trump’s America.
Right wing terrorists – they should be called what they are
@Woman On the Up: Yeah. Checks out.
https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1314267058339819520?s=21
@Woman On the Up: what would you call
Seattle’s activist-occupied zone armed miltia?
trump will probally pardon them
@Patrick Trench: well he pretty much blamed the governor for getting herself in trouble! Lol
They wont be charged with terrorism because they are not the right colour
@Wade Wilson: have Seattle’s activist-occupied zone been charged with terrorism?
Seems like the same thing in a different angle .
U.S. Republican senator Mick Lee has stated Democracy is not the objective… This may come as a shock to the peoples of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Porto Rico, Chilie,Iran,Afghanistan who paid the price for the imposition of American democracy. Not forgetting the the U.S. troops who died in enforcing American democracy. All Empires fall from with in ..The rise of the right wing in the U.S. will certainly speed it up.
Not Antifa?…. Who would have thought!
I wonder were they Stephen Crowder fans?
have your say