GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — UPDATE: Jurors have acquitted two defendants and deadlocked on the other two who were the alleged ringleaders in the foiled plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The jury acquitted Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta. Jurors said they couldn’t reach a verdict for Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., The Associated Press reported. US District Judge Robert Jonker declared a mistrial for Fox and Croft Jr., CNN reported.
Adam Fox and Barry Croft will return to jail for the time being.
— Robert Snell (@robertsnellnews) April 8, 2022
Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are being freed right now. pic.twitter.com/jNGg0pwFRj
The jury told the judge earlier Friday that they were deadlocked on some charges in the trial of four men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The judge sent them back to continue deliberating.
Gov. Whitmer’s office released a statement following the verdict, which read in part: “Without accountability, extremists will be emboldened.”
Governor Whitmer’s Chief of Staff released the following statement after the verdicts from the jury in GR. @wilxTV pic.twitter.com/zeFlhCym4e
— Seth Wells (@SethTVSports) April 8, 2022
Read the original report below.
Jurors will begin deliberations today in the trial of four men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The trial began March 9 and wrapped up with closing arguments on Friday, The Associated Press reported. Prosecutors urged the jury to convict the four men, calling them anti-government extremists “filled with rage.” Defense attorneys argued that their clients were improperly influenced by undercover FBI agents and paid informants.
Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are on trial after being charged with conspiracy to kidnap. Three of the defendants also face weapons charges, The Associated Press reported. Two others involved took plea deals in exchange for their testimony in the trial. Eight others accused of being involved in the kidnapping plot are facing state charges, according to mlive.
The four defendants were arrested in October 2020, accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at her vacation home because they were upset about the state’s strict COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and wanted to create political chaos to prevent Joe Biden from winning the presidential election, WJBK reported.
All four defendants in the federal case have pleaded not guilty.
©2022 Cox Media Group
Sign Up
