Ty Garbin, 25, pleads guilty to alleged conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

A member of the 25-year-old group accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to conspiracy kidnapping last fall. Ty Garbin is the first to be convicted in the high-profile case, and his detailed account of the alleged kidnapping plot could help prosecutors secure more convictions.

Garbin and five other men were arrested in October and charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer from her vacation home and bring her to justice for treason. Seven other men were charged with a separate plot to kidnap a number of government officials, including Whitmer.

Garbin appeared before U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Wednesday. The kidnapping conspiracy charge he faces carries a sentence of life imprisonment.

The aircraft mechanic has agreed to “fully cooperate” with the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office, Michigan State Police and the Attorney General’s Office in ongoing investigations and to testify against the five other indicted defendants. in federal court in western Michigan, according to the plea agreement filed by prosecutors earlier Wednesday.

Judge Jonker pointed to Garbin’s plea deal in court. “It could mean that one day you are called to the courtroom and forced to speak the truth about what you know, even if it ends up hurting people you know. Do you think you could do that? ” he asked the defendant.

“I could, Your Honor,” Garbin replied.

Mr. Garbin will also serve as a witness against eight other people accused in state court of cooperating with the conspiracy and has agreed to undergo a polygraph examination. His guilty plea follows an order earlier this month to stand trial along with five other people accused of participating in the kidnapping plot who were also charged with conspiracy to commit an kidnapping.

Garbin admitted in the plea deal to being a member of the Wolverine Watchmen, an organization officials called a “self-proclaimed ‘militia’ group.” He also said in the deal that three of his federal co-defendants were members of the group.

The plot detailed by FBI agents in court records included the surveillance of Governor Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan.

In a private conversation, Garbin used emoticons to suggest blowing up a bridge near Governor Whitmer’s property to block police, according to the FBI. In court on Wednesday, Garbin confessed to participating in a night watch at the lawmaker’s vacation home.

The FBI also said Garbin trained with firearms on his property and improvised explosive devices made with black powder, balloons and a fuse, covered in marbles.

As a convicted felon, Garbin will not be allowed to own firearms.

“You can no longer legally own a gun. Period,” Judge Jonker advised, adding, “I know guns have been your center of interest and your interest. But they won’t. ”

“I understand that, Your Honor,” Garbin said.

Prosecutors accused the Michigan man of suggesting militia members “[shoot] In an affidavit to the court, FBI Special Agent Richard Trask wrote that Garbin had agreed to attack Governor Whitmer’s house, “even if it only resulted in the destruction of property,” and proposed “To paint his personal boat black to support the surveillance of the vacation home from the lake where the vacation home is located. ”

Defense lawyers stressed that the defendants were exercising their First Amendment rights, arguing that the defendants had never carried out a kidnapping plot.

The conviction comes as federal law enforcement officials are on high alert following the Jan.6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Department of Homeland Security triggered a newsletter on terrorism Wednesday, warning Americans of terrorist threats to the United States “fueled by false narratives,” including unsubstantiated allegations of the 2020 presidential election.

“Reports suggest that some ideologically motivated violent extremists opposed to the exercise of government authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, may continue to rally to incite or commit violence, ”the bulletin said.

Former Department of Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff warned reporters on Wednesday of continuing threats to national security across the country, including state capitol buildings. “We have seen attacks over the past two months by these far-right groups, not only against the federal government here in Washington, but against state capitals,” Chertoff said. “It’s a national problem. It’s not really a Washington DC or federal government problem.”

Garbin is scheduled to appear for sentencing on July 8 in United States District Court in the Western District of Michigan, South Division.