Suspect text: "When's lynching? in Gov. Whitmer kidnapping plot
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WWMT) — Attorneys for the four suspects charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushed back on the FBI's most crucial witness to date.
During the trial Monday, kidnapping plot mastermind Adam Fox's attorney Christopher Gibbons cross-examined the FBI's informant known as "Big Dan" or Dan Chappel.
Under cross examination, Chappel said he pushed for Fox to do the first reconnaissance of the governor's cottage in Elk Rapids in late August 2020.
The acknowledged Monday that he provided paper and pen for Fox to draw a map after a daytime ride to Elk Rapids. He said he paid for lunch at a diner where the map was drawn and provided transportation for the trip.
Prosecutors charged four men with a kidnapping conspiracy: Adam Fox, Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft and Daniel Harris. The FBI said the men came up with the plan to snatch and grab Whitmer in 2020 due to their anger of COVID-19 restrictions.
Texts: Adam Fox suggested lynching Gov. Whitmer
During the trial Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler introduced text messages written after Whitmer lost a Michigan Supreme Court decision about her powers.
"When's the lynching?" Fox wrote. "She should be arrested now, immediately. Who wants to roll out?" according to evidence introduced Monday.'
During the trial Monday, kidnapping plot mastermind Adam Fox's attorney Christopher Gibbons cross-examined the FBI's informant known as "Big Dan" or Dan Chappel.
Gibbons pointed out that Chappel had proposed firing a bullet through the window of the governor's cottage when nobody was home and mailing the ammunition casing as a threat to Whitmer.
Chappel testified he also made suggestions to deescalate Fox's kidnapping plans during a 2020 meeting.
“I'm not professional law enforcement, I'm just an average guy. I had no playbook to go off; this was all fluid every day," Chappel said on the witness stand Monday.
Attorneys say the case doesn't go beyond anger tied to the COVID-19 pandemic orders and government distrust and argued FBI informants ran the operation and enticed the suspects.
- Trial day 5: FBI informant feared suspects
A FBI agent Mark Schweer and Chapel's testimony recounted potentially damaging statements made by the defendants from audio recordings and text messages obtained on secret recording devices.
The audio clips played during the trial captured the informants with the suspects in training sessions and in reconnaissance missions near the Governor's summer cottage. Both informants recorded conversations with the alleged mastermind of the plot Adam Fox.
Fox's attorney had previously argued Fox was a pot-smoking misfit influenced by Big Dan. Other defense attorneys said the suspects liked to talk big when high and drunk and were incapable of being able to kidnap the Governor.
Julia Kelly, Daniel Harris's attorney had previously argued Harris looked up to Dan as a "father figure"
The former Army Sargent said he wanted to find a group for military-style training when a Facebook algorithm suggested the Wolverine Watchmen in March 2020. Dan said days after joining, he told law enforcement about the group was talking about killing police officers.
"They wanted to do a reverse red flag and kill law enforcement officers," Big Dan testified Friday.
Attorneys have been critical of “Dan,” who the FBI paid $54,000, including $6,000 in expenses for his work over six to seven months.
Dan is one of at least 12 informants prosecutors used in the kidnapping case, court records show. A FBI undercover agent named "Red" who was brought into the plot as an 'explosives' expert is expected to testify during the trial.
Fourteen men, most with ties to the Wolverine Watchmen militia have been charged in state and federal courts in connection to the kidnapping plot.
- State Charges: What we know about the Wolverine Watchmen
Morrison and seven other man face state charges for the alleged role in the kidnapping plot.
Chappel said he recorded conversations during meetings, training exercises and social gatherings.
