Man pleads guilty to plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

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Ty Garbin, 25, signed an agreement pleading guilty in federal court in Michigan to the only charge against him – kidnapping conspiracy.

In return, prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence lower than the charge maximum, which would have been life imprisonment.

The other five federal defendants are awaiting trial after being arrested in October, when authorities say the plot was foiled.
The indictment alleged that between June 6 and October 7, the men conspired to “seize, kidnap, abduct and take away illegally and hold for ransom and reward” Whitmer, who is a Democrat. Authorities said the men planned to kidnap the governor of a vacation home and blow up a bridge to delay law enforcement, but were arrested first.

In addition to the six indicted in federal court, eight other people were indicted in the case by the state in October.

As first reported by The Detroit News, the FBI learned about the scheme in early 2020 through a social media group, according to the federal criminal complaint.

The case highlighted political tensions in Michigan which reached new highs as Whitmer faced backlash for the restrictions she imposed earlier this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Observers pointed to then-President Donald Trump’s rhetoric toward the governor and his state, including a tweet in which he called on residents to “free” Michigan from restrictions.

As part of the plea deal, the government can call Garbin to testify against the other five federal defendants in a trial scheduled for March 23. Garbin has previously cooperated with the government to share information about the plot, according to the agreement.

CNN’s Devan Cole, Sonia Moghe and Jason Hanna contributed to this report.

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