BELLAIRE, Mich. – Nearly 3 years after government foiled a atypical plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the final defendants accused of collaborating cross on trial Monday.
Eric Molitor and brothers William Null and Michael Null have been amongst 14 males, described through prosecutors as anti-government extremists, charged in the scheme weeks prior to the November 2020 election. They have been angered through Whitmer’s COVID-19 insurance policies, which close down colleges and limited the economic system, investigators mentioned in courtroom filings.
The plotters have been individuals of paramilitary teams and spoke of attacking the state Capitol and police to ignite civil struggle, the paperwork mentioned.
Nine males to this point had been convicted in state or federal courtroom, together with 4 who pleaded responsible. Two others have been acquitted at trial.
Jury variety in the final case is set to begin Monday. Opening arguments are scheduled for Wednesday in rural Antrim County, a vacationer haven recognized for cherry and apple orchards, glowing lakes and old fashioned villages. Among them is Elk Rapids, the place Whitmer has a holiday house.
Evidence introduced in earlier trials prompt the plotters supposed to abduct the two-term Democratic governor there and blow up a bridge to save you regulation enforcement officials from assisting her. But informants and undercover FBI brokers have been within the staff for months, main to arrests. Whitmer was once now not bodily harmed.
Molitor and the Null brothers, all from Michigan, are charged with offering subject material beef up for terrorist acts — punishable through up to 20 years in jail — and illegally possessing firearms. They have pleaded now not responsible.
“These cases are very important in light of the times we live in,” mentioned Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. legal professional in Michigan. “Acts of political violence have no place in a democracy.”
After the plot was once thwarted, Whitmer blamed then-President Donald Trump, announcing he had given “comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division.” Trump referred to as the kidnapping plan a “fake deal” in August 2022.
The Null brothers, both 41, have been portrayed as close allies of convicted plot leader Adam Fox, who spoke highly of them during a meeting in the basement of a Grand Rapids-area vacuum cleaner shop, according to authorities.
“Like, they’re willing to go die … if need be. They don’t want to die in vain though,” Fox mentioned, now not understanding an FBI informant was once secretly recording him.
The Nulls and Molitor attended a training session in Luther, Michigan, where a “shoot house” was constructed to simulate Whitmer’s vacation home, witnesses previously testified. That same weekend, the Nulls joined Fox, Barry Croft Jr. and others on a night ride to Elk Rapids to see the property.
“The assignment for that vehicle was to be a look out for ‘suspicious’ vehicles in Gov. Whitmer’s neighborhood and to interact with the other two vehicles participating in the surveillance by using hand-held radios,” prosecutors said in a court filing.
Molitor, 39, participated in daytime surveillance of Whitmer’s home a few weeks earlier, riding with Fox and FBI informant Dan Chappel and recording video, according to evidence.
Molitor said “he was ‘in’ on Fox’s plan for an extraction or ‘snatch and grab’ if it was done ‘professionally,’” according to prosecutors.
Molitor has publicly claimed that he and others were entrapped by undercover FBI agents and informants who played key roles during firearms training and rides to Elk Rapids.
Fox, who is serving a 16-year prison sentence after his conviction on federal conspiracy charges, told state Judge Charles Hamlyn this month he would not testify in the upcoming trial, invoking his right against self-incrimination.
Two different defendants, Brian Higgins and Shawn Fix, pleaded responsible to decreased fees previous this 12 months and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
The major kidnapping conspiracy case was once treated in federal courtroom, the place 4 males, together with ringleaders Fox and Croft, have been convicted. Two others were acquitted.
Separately, 3 males have been convicted at trial in Jackson County, the website of coaching for self-styled defense force individuals, and are serving long prison terms.
Antrim County drew attention from conspiracy theorists when an election evening clerical error in 2020 in short indicated Democrat Joe Biden had carried the staunchly Republican county. The downside was once mounted and then-President Donald Trump correctly credited with profitable. But his supporters unsuccessfully sued to check out balloting machines.