Kidnappers Found Guilty; Whitmer, Liberal Group Give Statements

A federal jury on Tuesday found two men who were on trial for conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer guilty.

Adam Fox and Barry Croft Junior were convicted in federal court in Grand Rapids. The two were also found guilty of conspiring to get a weapon of mass destruction which was a bomb to blow up a bridge. This was the second trial for the defendants as their first trial ended with a hung jury. Two other men tried at that time were acquitted and two others pleaded guilty and testified for the prosecution.

WHITMER ISSUES STATEMENT

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement after a guilty verdict was reached in the kidnapping trial.

“I want to thank the prosecutors and law enforcement officers for their hard work and my family, friends, and staff for their support.

“Today’s verdicts prove that violence and threats have no place in our politics and those who seek to divide us will be held accountable. They will not succeed.

“But we must also take a hard look at the status of our politics. Plots against public officials and threats to the FBI are a disturbing extension of radicalized domestic terrorism that festers in our nation, threatening the very foundation of our republic.

“I ran for office because I love my fellow Michiganders and my home state with all my heart. I always will. I cannot—I will not—let extremists get in the way of the work we do. They will never break my unwavering faith in the goodness and decency of our people.

“I will stay focused on getting things done for the people of Michigan.”

LIBERAL GROUP ‘PROGRESS MICHIGAN’ BLAMES REPUBLICANS

The following statement on the news that two of the men accused of plotting to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer have received guilty verdicts can be attributed to Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan:

“Holding the men who plotted to kidnap our governor accountable for their actions is a good start in our ongoing battle against right-wing extremist political violence, but it is just that: a start. The political environment that resulted in this plot has not changed in the years since it was hatched. We must examine how the Michigan Republican Party continues to not only cozy up to right-wing militias and extremists, but also welcomes extremists and conspiracy theorists into the leadership of their party and nominates them as candidates to lead our state.

“While we might hope these convictions tamp down the reckless radical rhetoric coming from the MIGOP when it comes to Governor Whitmer’s work to protect Michiganders, we haven’t seen any evidence Republicans will stop spewing their dangerous vitriol in their cowardly attempt to hang onto power. We must hold Republicans accountable for their hate-inspiring messaging and continue to root out the right-wing extremism poisoning our state before it leads to more extremist violence. In short, today justice was served, but the work continues.”

ATTORNEY GENERAL NESSEL STATEMENT

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the statement below following the conviction in federal court of two men who conspired to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer:

“Those who threaten the lives of public officials must be held accountable. No one should have to forfeit their safety or that of their loved ones in exchange for pursuing public service. If domestic terrorists are allowed to get away with acts of violence against the people’s representatives, they may soon turn that violence on our communities and residents. Today’s verdict is a victory for the rule of law and a significant defeat for domestic terrorism. I have a zero-tolerance for such acts and look forward to pursuing the state’s cases in court.”

Kidnappers Found Guilty; Whitmer, Liberal Group Give Statements

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