Allegan County Democratic Party Chairwoman Jill Dunham has reported that two people arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Michigan state government and kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are from Shelbyville and Plainwell.
Reuters New Service this morning announced the alleged plot was to execute the kidnapping before the Nov. 3 presidential election.
The alleged plot included reaching out to a Michigan-based militia group, according to an affidavit by FBI special agent Richard Trask released earlier on Thursday.
Charged with providing material for an act of (domestic) terrorism were William Null of Shelbyville and Michael Null of Plainwell. They were arrested in Antrim County and also were charged with felony firearms. Bond was set for $250,000. The two were among 13 arrested in connection with the alleged plot.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge identified the federally-charged suspects as Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta. They could face life in prison if convicted on charges of attempting to kidnap Whitmer.
Whitmer, a Democrat elected in 2018, has been a frequent target of Republican President Donald Trump’s tweet criticisms. Particularly at issue have been her policies of enforcing coronavirus social distancing rules, which last week were overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court, but essentially reinstated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services..
Fox has been accused of posting in an encrypted chat last month that he did not want a final training exercise to take place during the last week of October because it would not leave enough time to execute the kidnapping before the national election on Nov. 3.
Trask said in an affidavit, “The group agreed to use the time until the final training exercise to raise money for explosives and other supplies.”
The Null brothers, who have had ties to militia groups for some time, took part in a recent rally with Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf last May in Grand Rapids. William Null was identified as being on stage standing alongside Leaf, who was a guest speaker at the event.
FOX 17 News spoke with the sheriff Thursday night and he commented, “I was shocked, did not see this coming with those guys, but still we can’t convict them in the media here, they do have a right to a fair trial.”
WXMI-Fox 17 reported that Leaf says he doesn’t know of Null’s alleged involvement in the kidnapping plot and doesn’t have any regrets about being a stage with him.
Fox News reported Leaf said, “It’s just a charge, and they say a ‘plot to kidnap’ and you got to remember that. Are they trying to kidnap? Because a lot of people are angry with the governor, and they want her arrested. So are they trying to arrest or was it a kidnap attempt?”
WXMI said the sheriff insisted the Null brothers were always very nice and respectful.
As Rep. Jerrold Nadler says about violence, looting, and killing by BLM and Antifa saying it was a myth, maybe this is too?
They’ll find out when Bubba has them for a cell mate. I know they’re your kind of people, one of the brothers had the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag hanging from his flag pole.
Ms. Annebelle, thank you for taking the time to respond, even though your anger is directed at patriots and not Antifa and BLM, you know, the ones you love and support in their anarchy; assaulting, killing, burning, and looting ways. Maybe you should adjust your thinking or at least turn in your anarchy “badge”.
It’s people like you that hate this country.