Democrats on Thursday made it clear they felt President Trump was at least in part to blame for a thwarted scheme to kidnap the governor of MI, citing the president's divisive rhetoric that has often found support among white supremacists and other hate groups. Officials also revealed that the six men facing federal charges used encrypted messaging to communicate about the plot, conducted coordinated surveillance on the governor's vacation home, and detonated an improvised explosive device wrapped with shrapnel.
MI attorney general Dana Nessel disclosed additional state charges against seven men affiliated with the Wolverine Watchmen for allegedly violating the state's anti-terrorism act by conspiring to kidnap the governor and propagate violence.
Whitmer herself publicly pinned some blame on President Donald Trump earlier today, noting that he did not condemn white supremacists in last week's debate with Biden and instead told a far-right group to "stand back and stand by". "Why won't the president just say 'stop".
By the time they met in OH again on July 18, the group had narrowed in on MI, authorities say.
"I'll be honest, I never could have imagined anything like this", she said.
He has referred to Whitmer as the "woman in Michigan".
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said "Violent white supremacists continue to pose the most significant domestic terrorism threat in our nation".
More than a dozen people face either federal or state charges for their involvement in the plot.
Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat who herself was the victim of a freaky kidnapping threat in late May, said Republican leaders share some blame for the recent spate of threats against Whitmer and other public officials. They literally do not care about the safety of their Democratic colleagues, and continue to turn a blind eye to their president's hateful rhetoric.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany criticized Whitmer's remarks.
"Governor Whitmer is sowing division by making these outlandish allegations", McEnany said in a statement.
Whitmer thanked law enforcement for thwarting the alleged conspirators and said she hopes that convictions will bring "these sick and depraved men to justice".
Whitmer and Trump have been frequent critics of one another in recent months, sparring over the the coronavirus crisis and how best to resolve it.
"This should be a moment for national unity where we all pull together as Americans to meet this challenge head on with the same might and muscle that put a man on the moon", Whitmer said, as she pivoted towards her criticisms of the President. Authorities also have not publicly said whether the men were angry about Whitmer's coronavirus orders, which sharply curtailed businesses and individuals in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
On October 3, the Michigan Supreme Court handed down a 4-3 majority decision stating Whitmer did not have the authority to extend the state of emergency after April 30. They hoped to enact their plan before the November presidential election. I've got to compliment the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the police agencies for what they did and how they stepped up.
