The 14 men accused of devising a plot that included the kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer allegedly also planned to stage weeklong, televised executions of other public officials.
WLS reported that the militiamen intended for 200 combatants to storm the state Capitol Building before the executions. Authorities said another plan involved burning down the statehouse, resulting in mass casualties.
In October, 13 suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged militia plot: Adam Fox, 37; Barry Croft, 44; Ty Garbin, 24; Kaleb Franks, 26; Daniel Harris, 23; Brandon Caserta, 33; William Null, 38; Michael Null, 38; Eric Molitor, 36; Paul Bellar, 21; Sean Fix, 38; Pete Musico, 42; and Joseph Morrison, 42.
The 14th suspect, Brian Higgins, 51, who was released from custody in late October, is fighting his extradition to Michigan, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Higgins lives in Wisconsin, and his lawyer claimed the extradition paperwork is invalid because it was signed by Whitmer, according to The Detroit Free Press.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel previously called the kidnapping plot “serious and credible.”
Federal authorities said the group conducted surveillance on Whitmer’s vacation home on two instances in August. The militia group allegedly held several meetings over the summer during which they did firearms training, combat drills, and attempted to build IEDs. The devices were defective and did not detonate as intended, the complaint detailed.
The FBI had been watching the suspects since March, after a local law enforcement agency learned they were trying to obtain police officers’ home addresses. Nessel alleged the group planned to “instigate a Civil War.”
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[Featured image: Gretchen Whitmer/Michigan Governor’s Office]
