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Prosecutors urge jury to convict 4 in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot

‘This is about kidnapping a woman from her home’

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Prosecution gave closing arguments in the trial against four men accused in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Roth began his closing argument by telling the jury that if we disagree with politicians, we vote them out.

Read: Jury urged to convict 4 in plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer

“We don’t kidnap them, kill them or blow them up,” Roth said.

Roth said for a moment, forget about the victim, Whitmer, and her job.

“This is about kidnapping a woman from her home in the middle of the woods at gunpoint. That’s what they wanted to do,” Roth said. “You heard them over and over talk about kidnapping her, murdering her and anyone who got in their way.

Roth said talk of the plan wasn’t just protected speech. Wolverine Watchmen members Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer and testified against the men they trained with -- they said the plot was real.

Roth argued that Croft, Fox, Harris and Caserta showed intent to pull off the kidnapping because of all the training and accumulation of gear -- like body armor, helmets, a taser and flex cuffs.

Read: Complete Whitmer kidnapping plot coverage


Have information? You can reach the Local 4 Defenders investigative team by calling 313-962-9348, or you can fill out this online form.



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.

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