The men convicted of aiding a plan to kidnap Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will be doing a lot of prison time. As it happens, if you plot the kidnapping of an elected official, that's frowned upon. The trio was given sentences that could put all three in prison for at least seven years.
The New York Times reports:
The three men, Paul Bellar, 24, Joseph Morrison, 28, and Pete Musico, 45, were convicted in October of aiding a plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer, a Democrat, as part of a right-wing backlash over her role in the state's Covid restrictions. The men, all Michigan residents, were found guilty of providing material support for terrorist acts and illegal gang membership, as well as felony firearms charges.
Kidnapping is bad. I do not recommend it. 0 out of 5 stars.
Judge Thomas Wilson, the chief judge of the Jackson County Circuit and Probate Court, sentenced Mr. Musico to a minimum of 12 years in prison, including consecutive sentences of five to 20 years for gang membership, five to 20 years for supporting terrorist acts and two years for the firearms charge.
Mr. Morrison was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison, including two consecutive sentences of four to 20 years for gang membership and supporting terrorist acts and another two years for the firearms violation.
NBC News reports:
The trial in state court was separate from a prosecution in federal court where two leaders, Fox and Barry Croft Jr., were convicted of a kidnapping conspiracy. Two more men pleaded guilty and two others were acquitted.
They were convicted in October of providing material support for a terrorist act, which carries a maximum term of 20 years, and two other crimes.
Former President Donald Trump repeatedly lashed out at Gov. Whitmer on Twitter and his rallies. At one rally, he took credit for the FBI thwarting a plot to kidnap her, and then he immediately downplayed the threat Whitmer faced. And, of course, there was Lumpy's “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” tweet, referring to Michigan’s COVID-19 restrictions.
The disgraced former President was not supportive of Whitmer, even while she was inundated with death threats.
