Skip to main content
Rain icon
36º

Man charged in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer expected to plead guilty

Kaleb Franks would be the 2nd guilty plea in plot

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – A Waterford Township man is expected to plead guilty in the alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Kaleb Franks said he would join Ty Garbin as the second person to admit guilt in the plan to kidnap Whitmer before FBI agents arrested them in October 2020. Four other men are expected to face trial.

Read: 2nd guilty plea planned in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer

Franks is 26 years old and is facing federal charges for being part of the group Wolverine Watchmen. The FBI says they were plotting to kidnap Whitmer, angry over the state’s COVID restrictions.

Officials say Franks found the group on social media. Franks has been fighting from the state that he and the others were entrapped by FBI informants who infiltrated the group. They argue that training for a violent assault on the governor’s summer home was just for show.

Now, Franks is pleading guilty and says that the violent plot was very real. He admitted that he knowingly and voluntarily joined the plot. Franks may get a lighter sentence but he will also testify against the people he trained with: Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta.

Click here to view complete coverage on the Whitmer kidnapping plot.


Read: Complete Local 4 Defenders coverage



About the Authors
Shawn Ley headshot

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Kayla Clarke headshot

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

Loading...

Recommended Videos