Justice Department official vows thorough investigation into Michigan governor abduction scheme involving attorney
U.S. Pardon Attorney Reviews Cases of Michigan Governor Kidnap Conspirators
DETROIT – The Justice Department's new pardon attorney, Ed Martin, has expressed his intention to closely scrutinize the cases of Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, two men currently serving lengthy prison terms for leading a conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Speaking on "The Breanna Morello Show" this week, Martin stated, "On the pardon front, we can't leave these guys behind." He suggested parallels between these men and those pardoned by President Donald Trump following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, calling them "victims."
The plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer, a Democrat, and instigate a civil war burst into public attention during the home stretch of the 2020 presidential election. Anti-government extremists, including Croft, a Delaware trucker, and Fox, a Grand Rapids resident, were central figures in the conspiracy. Both men were convicted of conspiracy in federal court in Grand Rapids in 2022, with Croft also found guilty of a weapons charge.
Croft was sentenced to close to 20 years in prison, while Fox received a 16-year term. Both are currently housed at a top-security federal prison in Colorado.
Governor Whitmer was unharmed in the plot. Martin referred to the case as a "fed-napping" plot, implying doubts about the extent of government involvement in the investigation. He characterized the case as an example of the government's potential weaponization.
"I have complete confidence that we're going to get a hard look at it. The president will want to know the facts about it," Martin pledged, promising a thorough review.
Despite request for comment, Governor Whitmer's office did not immediately respond.
In 2020, Governor Whitmer accused President Trump of fueling mistrust and anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to denounce right-wing extremists. After Trump left office, he cast doubt on the kidnapping scheme, calling it a "fake deal."
Sources:
- FBI arrests 13 in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, CNN, October 8, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/whitmer-kidnapping-ploth-updates/h_b01decd0b6a34e7e90ba8d890e2ff17d
- Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox convicted in kidnap conspiracy against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, NPR, November 18, 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/11/18/1137820263/barry-croft-adam-fox-convicted-kidnap-conspiracy-gretchen-whitmer
- The controversial discussions about the federal government's involvement in the kidnapping plot against Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan continue, with Pardon Attorney Ed Martin suggesting potential parallels between the case and those pardoned in the wake of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
- Martin's decision to review the cases of Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, convicted in the plot against Governor Whitmer, has sparked public debate on the politicization of criminal justice, adding fuel to the ongoing discourse on government intervention in crime-and-justice matters.
- The upcoming review of the Whitmer kidnapping case by Presidential authorities could potentially open a new chapter in the general-news landscape and shape public opinion about the role of politics in crime prosecution.
