Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

'Architect' of Gov. Whitmer kidnap conspiracy gets longest prison term

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Dec 2022 10:32
4 Min Read

According to sources, members of the cell were reportedly angry over the Covid-19 restriction Governor Whitmer had put in place. 

  • x
  • Judge orders longest prison term so far in Gov. Whitmer plot
    Barry Croft Jr. 

A judge commissioned with charging suspects involved in the conspiracy to kidnap Michigan's governor, Gretchen Whitmor, charged Barry Croft Jr. to more than 19 years in prison on Wednesday, the Justice Department reported on Wednesday. 

Croft, 47, is a Delaware trucker who was among four militiamen convicted in the plot to kidnap the Governor on October 2020.

Croft was also charged with possessing an unregistered explosive device. 

He received the longest term in comparison to his two other peers, Ty Garbin, 27, who received a sentence of 2.5 years and is already freed,  Adam Fox, 39, who received a sentence of 16 years, and Kaleb Franks, 28, who received a term of 4 years after pleading guilty.

The DoJ sought to give Fox a life sentence but instead charged him with 16 years in prison a day prior to Croft's sentencing.  

Prosecutors initially thought of giving Croft a life sentence due to him being “the idea guy” behind the conspiracy and “a very convincing communicator" in inviting people to join the plot, according to Judge Robert J. Jonker. 

"However twisted or irrational it may seem to many of us, it did resonate to the targeted audience," the judge said. "That is as important a method of leadership as being out in the field telling people where to go."
 
Croft's attorney, Joshua Blanchard, said he would appeal the court's decision. According to him, Croft was not the “ideas guy” and “most of what Mr. Croft said was excluded because the government didn’t want the jury to hear it.”

According to reports, Croft and Adam Fox were charged in August with conspiracy to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer. 

"According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Croft and others intended to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer from her vacation cottage near Elk Rapids, Michigan, and use the destructive devices to facilitate their plot by harming and hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers," the statement by the DoJ read.

"They specifically explored placing a bomb under an interstate overpass near a pedestrian boardwalk. A jury in an earlier trial was unable to reach a verdict," the statement added. 

According to sources, the culprits were reportedly angry over the Covid-19 restriction Governor Whitmer had put in place. 

Related News

Von der Leyen faces no-confidence motion amid Pfizergate fallout: FT

New White House website claims COVID-19 caused by 'China lab leak'

They were also against her staunch position against gun ownership. 

Read more: DeSantis vs. Trump; a cold war getting 'hotter and hotter' - The Hill

Since the FBI was secretly monitoring the group, their attempt was eventually foiled, and Whitmer was left unharmed. 

The bureau carried out a total of 14 arrests. 

"We’re talking about a conspiracy to physically kidnap the governor, potentially assassinate her as well. It doesn’t get much more serious than that," Jonker said before announcing Croft's sentence.

"The group had a lot of guns. This group had all kinds of material ready to go to achieve their end."

Assistant Attorney Nils Kessler described Croft as the "spiritual leader" of the group of conspirators, and even compared his role to “some sheikh in ISIS."

“He essentially was putting himself as a role of a prophet ... there are people who believe this sort of rhetoric, and he used it,” Kessler told the judge.
 
“This man is fully radicalized. He hasn’t changed his viewpoint,” Kessler added. "He’s not admitting the ideas are wrong because he still holds them. This whole thing was Mr. Croft’s idea.”

According to Croft's attorney, Croft did not really lead the group and was rather annoying to his peers because he "just kept talking". Instead, Blanchard said his client "went way down a conspiracy rabbit hole."

“When the pandemic touched off, a lot of people went down a similar rabbit hole and suddenly Mr. Croft was connected with a lot of people who felt the same way he did," Blanchard told the judge.

Whitmer blamed former President Donald Trump over the incident and accused him of giving "comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division."

Earlier this year, Trump said in August that the kidnapping plan was a "fake deal".

Read more: Trump's taxes to be released by House committee after 3-year tug

  • COVID-19
  • Trump
  • Extremism
  • Gun laws

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS