The FBI conducted unexplained raids in Michigan yesterday but charges have now been filed against at least six men who were quite literally planning to abduct Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer according to evidence presented in the indictments.
Audio and video recordings of the group show them discussing their plan to kidnap the governor in or around her vacation home and then take her out of state for a mock "trial" of some description.
From the Associated Press:
DETROIT (AP) — Six people plotted to try to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at her vacation home, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday in federal court.
Four of the six men had planned to meet Wednesday to “make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear,” the FBI said in the court filing.
The FBI quoted one of the accused as saying Whitmer “has no checks and balances at all. She has uncontrolled power right now. All good things must come to an end.”
The core of their grievances with the governor appears to stem from coronavirus mitigation measures and that brings us to this:
At least one group of domestic terrorists took Trump both seriously and literally.
This is a stark reminder that Trump refused to take the coronavirus seriously from the very beginning and he actively opposed any checks on the spread of the virus. He encouraged his supporters to protest against lockdowns and mitigation measures but he didn't do that because he had some kind of ideological or constitutional argument to make. Trump encouraged his supporters to "liberate Michigan" because he thought it would increase his chances of being reelected. He has made the pandemic worse at every turn and even become a super spreader himself because he thought it would increase his chances of being reelected. Trump's unparalleled narcissisms has cost us over 200,000 lives so far and it could have led to the assassination of a sitting governor.
Recordings of the group trace their plans and movements between multiple states including Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.