Barry County Sheriff appeared at rally with brothers accused of Whitmer kidnapping plot
HASTINGS, Mich. — Two west Michigan brothers face state level terrorism and firearm charges following an investigation into the plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Michael Null, 38, of Plainwell, and William Null, 38, of Shelbyville, provided assistance for a nighttime physical surveillance operation of the governor’s vacation home by acting as lookouts for Adam Fox and other participants involved in the plot.
State police and federal agents raided William Null's home on the 1200 block of 9 Mile Road in Barry County and Michael Null's home on 800 block of 109th Avenue in Plainwell Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Neighbors of both brothers said the men typically kept to themselves and were quiet.
"I really figured he was a nice guy," Ray Synder, William Null's neighbor, said.
Null's home is surrounded by a fence that neighbors said was hastily installed last week.
"He put the fence up in a hurry," Norm Synder said.
Michael and William Null are among 13 men charged in connection with an alleged militia-orchestrated plot to kidnap Whitmer and put her on trial for treason. The FBI said the Null brothers and five of the other suspects belonged to a militia group known as Wolverine Watchmen.
Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf appeared with kidnapping suspects at rally
Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf appeared at a Grand Rapids rally with William Null in May protesting the state’s stay at home order. At the mid-May rally, Leaf said the governor's quarantine measures were akin to the mass arrest of the state's residents.
Leaf, a 30-year veteran of law enforcement, praised Michigan militia members working security detail at that event.
He said that Null attended the event as a member of the Michigan Liberty Militia. Leaf said Null attended a Black Lives Matter rally in Grand Rapids to help keep the protest peaceful.
Leaf said Null also brought trailers of bottled water to share with residents in Flint. He was side-by-side with members of Black Lives Matter handing out water, Leaf said.
"I've seen him at different rallies. We saw him at a rally in front of the courthouse and he introduced his family to me one time. That's about it. I don't remember having lunch with him or anything like that," Leaf said.
We asked Leaf if he regretted appearing with Null at that May event.
"Why would I have any regrets? I have no idea any of this was being planned. He was actually security at the event and I was giving a speech," Leaf said.
Leaf faced criticism for comments he made in an interview that the men were considering merely arresting the governor, which he claimed was legal under state law.
The remarks prompted Nessel to tweet that only licensed and trained officers can make arrests. Nessel called Leaf's comments dangerous.
Null had appeared in the gallery of the Michigan Senate Chamber during the American Patriot Rally, organized by Michigan United for Liberty, to demand the reopening of businesses on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on April 30, 2020.
"There’s a spot for a militia. It’s in our Constitution for a reason. If the guys get radical, it’s only going to land them in a jail or prison," Leaf said.
Leaf defended the suspect's right to due process and said justice should take its course if the allegations prove to be true.
"We're trying not to try them right now. They have a right to that fair trial. We have citizens have a duty to make sure they get that, so we can't try that in the media," Leaf said.
Leaf said he's has been a strong advocate for militias, but not ones with extremist views.
"Had I known guys would do something like that, I would have stopped them dead in their tracks," Leaf said.
