The trial of four men accused in a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) began at a federal courtroom in Grand Rapids, Michigan this week. Jury selection began Tuesday, with opening statements coming Wednesday.
Prosecutors said Barry Croft Jr., Adam Fox, Brandon Caserta and Daniel Harris were going to break into Gov. Whitmer’s home, tie her up and take her. The four are also accused of planning to acquire a bomb to blow up a bridge near Whitmer’s home to stop police from quickly responding.
Lawyers for the four men said their clients only engaged in idle talk and never conspired to abduct the governor over her COVID-19 mandates.
“There was no agreement. There was no conspiracy to kidnap the governor of Michigan or any other governor,” attorney Christopher Gibbons, representing Adam Fox, said in his opening statement.
After the prosecutor and three of four defense lawyers made opening statements, U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker took the unusual step of allowing them to speak again to specifically address an entrapment defense, a claim that the government induced the men to commit crimes that they wouldn’t otherwise have committed.
All the defendants except Caserta are also charged with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property. If convicted by a 12-person jury, the men face the possibility of life in prison.
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