(WXYZ) — Six people have been accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, according to a criminal complaint from the FBI.
FBI: Hartland raid tied to plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta have been named in the complaint. Croft is from Delaware; the rest are Michigan residents.
According to the complaint, a Michigan-based militia group attempted to recruit members for the operation, which included storming the Capitol building in Lansing and taking hostages, including Whitmer. The plan was reportedly supposed to be executed before the November 2020 election.
The militia group reportedly held several meetings over the summer where they participated in firearms training and combat drills; they also attempted to build IED devices, which were faulty and did not detonate as planned, according to the complaint.
They used operational security measures, including communicating by encrypted messaging platforms and used code words and phrases in an attempt to avoid detection by law enforcement.
The group then reportedly decided to abduct the governor at her vacation home and take her to a secure location in Wisconsin for "trial."
In August, federal officials say the group allegedly conducted surveillance of her vacation home on two occasions. Additionally, Fox and Croft allegedly discussed detonating explosive devices to divert police from the area of the vacation home.
Fox also allegedly bought a taser for use in the kidnapping.
Read the full criminal complaint below:
Criminal Complaint Plot to Kidnap Gov. Whitmer by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
