Two men who were suspected of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer have been acquitted. The jury deadlocked on two other men in the case.
Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta, 34, and Daniel Harris, 24, were found not guilty. The jury was hung for Barry Croft Jr., 46, and Adam Fox, 38.
Fourteen men in total were arrested on state and federal charges for the kidnapping. Many of the men are tied to Wolverine Watchmen, a Michigan militia.
Two men took plea deals and testified against the four remaining federal defendants.
The trial consisted of four long weeks of testimony. The jury then took one full week to deliberate.
Prosecutors say the defendants plotted the governor’s kidnapping in spring 2020. They were outraged after she issued stay-at-home orders when COVID-19 broke out.
Multiple plans were discussed, including kidnapping the governor and leaving her on a boat in Lake Michigan. They also discussed blowing up a bridge near her residence to slow police response.
Attorneys for the defense said their clients were under the influence of booze and marijuana and had no serious plans to carry out the crimes.
Prosecutors argued that the defendants were serious about the plans. There were men in the group that went to the governor’s home. They would stay out front and take notes. Then, allegedly, they agreed to be prepared for action when she travels north.
