{"id":2033711,"date":"2023-09-15T17:21:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T21:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/last-3-men-accused-in-plot-to-kidnap-michigan-gov-whitmer-acquitted\/"},"modified":"2023-09-15T17:24:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T21:24:04","slug":"last-3-men-accused-in-plot-to-kidnap-michigan-gov-whitmer-acquitted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/last-3-men-accused-in-plot-to-kidnap-michigan-gov-whitmer-acquitted\/","title":{"rendered":"3 men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer acquitted."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flast-3-men-accused-in-plot-to-kidnap-michigan-gov-whitmer-acquitted%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2033711&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">William Null\u200d (R) stands in the gallery of the Michigan Senate Chamber during\u2064 the American Patriot Rally, organized \u200dby Michigan United for \u2064Liberty, to\u200b demand the reopening\u200d of businesses on \u200bthe steps of \u2063the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan,\u2063 on April 30, 2020. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>OAN\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/tag\/taylor-tinsley\">Taylor Tinsley<\/a><br \/>1:48 \u2062PM \u2013 Thursday, September 15, 2023<\/p>\n<h2>Three Men Found Not Guilty in Plot to Kidnap\u200c Michigan Governor<\/h2>\n<p>After more than 10 hours of deliberation, an Antrim County jury has found three men not guilty in the plot to kidnap Michigan \u200cGovernor Gretchen Whitmer.<\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-1\" style=\"min-width: 320px; min-height: 50px;  text-align: center;\">  \t<script>  \t\tgoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-1'); });  \t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-slot__ad-label\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Eric Molitor, 39, \u200dand twin brothers Michael and William Null, 41, were exonerated by the unanimous\u2062 verdict.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cThe bonds have been terminated, you gentlemen are free to leave,\u201d\u2063 said Judge Charles Hamlyn.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The charges against\u200d the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/last-3-men-accused-in-plot-to-kidnap-michigan-gov-whitmer-acquitted\/\" title=\"3 men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer acquitted.\">defendants included providing material support<\/a> to a terrorist plan and possessing \u2063a firearm, with the former carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years\u2064 in \u200bprison.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI initiated the investigation\u2062 into the kidnapping plot in 2020, utilizing informants and undercover agents to infiltrate the plan. The plot aimed to kidnap \u200cGovernor Whitmer (D-Mich.) \u2063from her Elk Rapids cabin during the early stages of \u200dthe Coronavirus lockdowns.<\/p>\n<p>The trial spanned two weeks, during which jurors heard over 100 hours of testimony. Molitor and William Null \u200btestified in their own defense,\u2064 while Michael Null did not testify\u200b and \u200dhis lawyer chose not to question any witnesses.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors argued that \u2063the defendants intended to assist \u200bthe key players in \u200dbringing terrorism \u2062to Antrim County.<\/p>\n<p>However, the defendants maintained that while they were \u200bfrustrated with the government, they had no intention of resorting to violence\u2063 against Governor Whitmer or local law enforcement. Molitor and William Null \u2062testified that they became aware of the true nature of the plot at the last minute.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>During his testimony, William Null stated, \u201cIt seemed to be getting serious at that point in \u2064time, yeah. Again, I don\u2019t know if they were ever going to go through \u2064with it, but it was enough for me to not want to be involved.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oklahoma-attorney-general-wants-to-vacate-conviction-of-high-profile-death-row-inmate\/\" title=\"Oklahoma attorney general wants to vacate conviction of high-profile death row inmate\">case gained significant attention<\/a> \u200dduring the height of the \u2064Coronavirus pandemic, a period marked by increased political violence and protests in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>A central argument in the\u2063 case revolved around whether \u200bthe defendants were aware of their contribution to a terrorist act and the role of FBI \u2064informants leading up to their arrests.<\/p>\n<p>During closing arguments, William Barnet, Molitor&#8217;s\u2064 attorney, highlighted the prosecution&#8217;s use of purposefully misedited tapes, questioning\u200d their motives and the strength of their case.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cThey \u200dwere short, abbreviated, out of context video clips cutting off Eric Molitor mid sentence, giving you\u2063 false\u2062 impressions as to his statements\u2026 Why would the government do this?\u201d he questioned. \u201cWhy are they putting on \u2062a tape that\u2019s shortened with Eric\u2019s mouth wide open? That\u2019s the evidence they\u2019re presenting \u200cto you, why would they \u200cgo to that level? It\u2019s \u2062because their case \u200dis weak.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Following the verdict, the defendants, their families, and even some of their \u200clawyers broke down in tears.<\/p>\n<p>Out of\u2064 the 14 men accused in the plot, 9 have been convicted while five\u2063 have been exonerated.<\/p>\n<p>The plot&#8217;s \u200ckey leaders, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., were both\u2062 convicted of kidnapping conspiracy last year. Fox is currently \u200cserving a 16-year sentence, while Croft was sentenced \u200dto nearly 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>Stay informed! Subscribe here to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xi-jinping-and-vladimir-putin-meet-in-kremlin\/\" title=\"Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin meet in Kremlin\">receive breaking news blasts directly<\/a> to your inbox \u200cfor free: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts\">https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>A grieving mother, whose son was\u200d stabbed to death, launches a congressional bid in New York. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>In a new policy video, 45th \u200bPresident Donald\u200b Trump reveals\u2063 ten steps to revitalizing the American education system.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>President Biden takes aim at \u201cMAGA-nomics\u201d \u2064in \u200chis attempt to win over voters on the economy. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>The DOJ indicts Hunter Biden on three gun related charges a month after his sweetheart deal fell through the cracks. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>LONDON (Reuters) -The European Commission launched an investigation on Wednesday\u2062 into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect European Union automakers against\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) \u2013 ABB is spending $280 million on \u200ba new robotics factory\u200b in Sweden, the \u2062Swiss engineering and\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>PARIS (Reuters) \u2013 French Europe Minister Laurence Boon on Wednesday welcomed an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese \u2062electric vehicles launched by the EU\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>By\u2063 Mathieu Rosemain and Silvia Aloisi PARIS (Reuters) \u2013 Apple \u200bsaid on Wednesday \u200bits iPhone 12 model was certified by multiple international\u2026 \u200c <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \u2064 rnrn  <\/p>\n<h2> What role did the FBI play in investigating and infiltrating the kidnapping plot?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ve pleaded \u200bguilty, and the remaining five are awaiting trial. The three men who were found not guilty in the plot to kidnap Michigan\u200c Governor\u2064 Gretchen Whitmer are Eric Molitor, 39, and twin brothers\u200d Michael and \u2063William Null, 41. After \u200dmore than 10 hours of deliberation, an Antrim County jury reached a unanimous verdict, exonerating the defendants.<\/p>\n<p>The charges against the defendants included providing material support to a terrorist plan and possessing\u200c a firearm, with the former carrying a \u200cpotential sentence of up to 20 \u200cyears \u200bin prison. However, the defendants maintained their innocence,\u200c arguing that\u2063 they had no intention \u2063of resorting to violence against Governor Whitmer\u200c or local law enforcement. Molitor\u200b and William Null testified that they became aware of \u200dthe true nature of the plot at the last\u200b minute and chose not to be involved.<\/p>\n<p>During the trial, which spanned\u200d two weeks, jurors heard over 100 hours\u2063 of testimony. The FBI initiated the investigation into the kidnapping plot in 2020, utilizing informants and undercover agents to infiltrate the\u2062 plan. The aim of the plot was to kidnap Governor Whitmer \u2063from her\u200d Elk Rapids cabin during the early stages of the Coronavirus \u2064lockdowns. The case\u200d gained significant\u200d attention during the height of the pandemic when political violence and protests were on\u200c the rise\u200c in \u2062the United States.<\/p>\n<p>A central argument in the case\u200b revolved around whether the defendants were aware of their contribution to a terrorist act and the role of\u200b FBI informants leading up to their \u2062arrests. Defense\u2064 attorney William Barnet highlighted the \u200bprosecution&#8217;s use of purposefully misedited\u2063 tapes during closing arguments, raising questions about their motives and the strength of their case.<\/p>\n<p>Following the verdict, the defendants, \u2064their families, and even some of their lawyers broke down in tears. The trial outcome brings relief to the three men who had maintained their innocence throughout \u200bthe process. Out of the 14 men accused in the plot, 9 have already pleaded guilty, and the remaining five are still \u2063awaiting trial.<\/p>\n<p>This case sheds light\u2064 on the complex nature \u200bof criminal trials and the importance of a fair and thorough \u2064judicial process. In this instance,\u2063 the jury carefully considered the evidence presented before reaching their\u2064 decision. While some may feel that justice has been served with the not guilty verdict, others may \u200dquestion the efficacy of the investigation and the role of the government\u2064 in \u200bshaping the case.<\/p>\n<p>As the \u200dlegal proceedings continue for the remaining defendants, it remains to\u200b be\u2063 seen how this high-profile case will\u2064 impact the broader conversations surrounding political violence and the protection of public\u200c officials. The verdict serves \u200cas a reminder of the intricacies involved in criminal cases and the responsibility of the judicial system to uphold justice and fairness for all parties involved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>William Null (R) attends the American Patriot Rally at the Michigan State Capitol, demanding the reopening of businesses. The event was organized by Michigan United for Liberty and took place on April 30, 2020. (Photo: JEFF KOWALSKY\/AFP via Getty Images) OAN\u2019s Taylor Tinsley reports at 1:48 PM.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1209,"featured_media":2033712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[542],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2033711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oann"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2033711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1209"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2033711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2033711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2033712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2033711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2033711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2033711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}