Two area men accused of being involved in a plot to kidnap and kill Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 have been ordered to stand trial in Antrim County.
Twin brothers Michael Null of Plainwell and William Null of Shelbyville, both age 40, are among five men who were in court in September for a preliminary examination. They face charges of providing material support for terrorism, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
86th District Court Judge Michael S. Stepka issued the order for the twins and Shawn Fix, 40, of Belleville; Eric Molitor, 38, of Cadillac; Brian Higgins, 53, of Wisconsin Dells to be tried in Antrim County, is where Whitmer owns a vacation home on Burt Lake. They were accused of helping assist one of two surveillance sessions near Whitmer’s vacation home.
FBI officials said the five men conducted surveillance on the governor’s home in preparation for her kidnapping because of her strong measures during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. They each face one felony charge of providing material support for an act of terrorism. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.
All defendants except for Higgins also face a felony firearms charge, which is punishable by up to two years in prison.
A pretrial conference for all five men is now set for 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, in Antrim County Circuit Court. Defense attorneys for the men all entered not guilty pleas for their clients upon their bind over to Circuit Court.
