Michigan's Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer became a target for the COVID-19 skeptics over strict measures in the state. The FBI said it had prevented a plot to kidnap and bring down Whitmer. 

Last week, the coronavirus restrictions imposed in Michigan were overturned by a judge. According to BBC, the officials stated that the kidnapping plot involved six men who planned to hold a "treason trial" for Whitmer. 

Governor Whitmer said, "hatred, bigotry, and violence have no place" in Michigan. She also described the accused as "depraved".

In June, a confidential law enforcement source attended a Dublin meeting, Ohio, as per the sworn FBI affidavit. A group of Michigan-based militia members planned to overthrow state governments that violate the US Constitution. 

FBI Busts Militia 'Plot' to Abduct Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer
(Photo : Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
GM President Announces Autonomous Cruise Origin Vehicle To Be Built In Hamtramck HAMTRAMCK, MI - JANUARY 27: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stands on stage at an event where General Motors announced that GMs Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant will build the all-electric Cruise Origin self-driving shuttle on January 27, 2020 in Hamtramck, Michigan. GM will invest $2.2 billion at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant and 2200 jobs for an all-electric future for electric pickups, SUVs, and autonomous vehicles.

The charging documents state that several members talked regarding murdering 'tyrants' of 'taking' a sitting governor. In one video, a suspect denounced the state's role in deciding when to reopen gyms amid the COVID-19 lockdown. 

To avoid secret recordings, the men that met in a basement accessed by a trapdoor gathered their phones and placed them in another room. However, the undercover FBI source wore a separate recording device to record their conversations. Investigators arrested thirteen people.

The federal court accused six men of plotting the kidnap. Allegedly, they planned to hold a "treason trial" against Governor Gretchen Whitmer. 

These six men are Barry Croft, Kaleb Franks, Brandon Casert, Ty Garbin, Daniel Harris, and Adam Fox. On Wednesday, in a trailer park, Mr.Gabin's residence was raided by the authorities.

The other seven men, Paul Bellar, Shawn Fix, Eric Molitor, Michael Null, William Null, Pete Musico, and Joseph Morrison, are arrested and face gang-related offenses and terrorism in state court regarding the alleged abduction plot.

An FBI agent quoted one of the accused saying Whitmer "uncontrolled power right now and all good things must come to an end," according to an affidavit.

As early as June, the agent wrote the talk of targeting Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as Fox and other members met in Ohio. The unnamed militia was angry about Whitmer's mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which urges businesses to shut down, as per CBS News. 

The filings revealed the conversations over the following months. Their talks are sometimes tactical training gatherings that are a more firm plan formed

The accused group of militia used operational messaging phrases, and coded words and phrases, Andrew Birge, U.S.Attorney for the Western District of Michigan said at a news conference. 

In early 2020, the FBI discovered through social media that a group talks about the "violent overthrow of several law-enforcement and government components."

As per the court filings, among those involved, Croft and Fox allegedly want to bring people together to take action against multiple state governments, which they believe are violating the Constitution. 

In a recorded conversation with the FBI source, Fox described a meeting held in Ohio and expressed his needs of 220 men to "storm the Michigan capitol building" and take hostages, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer. 

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