Shocker: Far-Right Men Accused in Michigan Guv Kidnap Plot Duck Conviction

[Ohio Joe]

In a shocking twist, a gaggle of white men accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the weeks before the 2020 presidential election dodged convictions on Friday.

After five days of deliberations, a Michigan jury acquitted Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta of several charges, including conspiracy, for what prosecutors said was a depraved scheme born out of anti-government anger at the Democratic leader’s COVID-19 restrictions. The jury, however, could not come to a consensus on the other two defendants and alleged ring leaders of the plot—Adam Fox and Barry Croft—and thus their cases may end in a mistrial.

The partial verdict came after five days of deliberation, during which jurors could not agree on all charges against the group. It marked perhaps the worst blow against federal prosecutors seeking to crack down on right-wing extremists in the aftermath of a uniquely violent and unhinged election season. And came after the case was marred by misconduct allegations against some of the FBI agents involved, as well as a “double agent” informant the feds effectively disavowed.

Prosecutors said the defendants, who include militia members and self-described patriots, spent months hatching the violent plan after Whitmer locked down the state in an effort to mitigate spread of the deadly virus. The plot allegedly included plans to kidnap the governor, detonate a bridge to prevent cops from rescuing her, and possibly leave her stranded on a boat in the middle of Lake Michigan.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/shocker-far-right-men-accused-in-michigan-guv-kidnap-plot-duck-conviction/ar-AAW0XXY?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=f241b883056b4d54899173331b3e56e6

IMO... This is what happens when you have an FBI that TFG changes to put a low priority on right wing terrorism combined with a DOJ run by Barr as a protection racket for TFG and his cultists. I have no doubt there are those who will point at Garland and conveniently forget who was in charge when the investigation happened, bungled one of the informants and left the shit sandwich in his lap. Hopefully the two ring leaders will still be able to get a re-trial.

[Novara]

1. Didn't their co-conspirators testify against them?

How the fuck did these two motherfuckers get acquitted?

[Thomas Hurt]

2. entrapment defense

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Absolute joke

They plotted to kidnap and kill our great governor, they had detailed plans and even went and cased her Summer home. These terrorists getting away with ensures we'll see more violence.

[PSPS]

4. Inept federal prosecutors also botched the bundy case in oregon.

The nut jobs will just do it again thinking (apparently correctly) that they are immune from any consequences.

[dpibel]

6. Not to quibble (he said, quibbling)

Prosecutors botched the Nevada Bundy case.

The Oregon Bundy case was pure jury nullification.

[inthewind21]

5. It was the Jury

That made the decision. Kyle Rittnehouse ring a bell? A large percentage of the citizens in this country are illiterate, batshit crazy loons. Guess what, they sit on juries. Let THAT sink in.

[MichMan]

7. Should passing an IQ test be required to serve on a jury ?

[MineralMan]

8. This case illustrates why hasty prosecutions are a bad idea.

To get guilty verdicts in cases like these, evidence has to be overwhelming. The prosecution needs and open and shut case, and that takes long preparation and investigation. Any flaw in the prosecutions case can mean "reasonable doubt" on the part of jurors. And that means you lose and the perps walk.

So those who are trying to rush Garland and the DOJ need to keep this all in mind. Imagine how much more difficult it will be to convict a former President or other elected officials. All it takes is a single juror to block a conviction.

It ain't easy. It ain't fast. Cases need to be ironclad for a successful prosecution and a guilty verdict.

[lame54]

9. Meanwhile...

Thousands will be arrested today
Be in front of a judge this evening
And be in jail tonight

[MineralMan]

10. Yes, because people are arrested after committing crimes.

If they cannot make bail or they are held without bail, they go to jail. Then, they wait for their trial. Some will be convicted. Others will not.

I'm not sure quite what your point is. Everyone gets due process. Those with excellent attorneys often aren't convicted. Those who are prosecuted by people who don't have enough evidence lose their cases.

Unless the perp is caught in the act by authorities, generally an arrest requires a warrant. Have warrants been issued in the important federal cases? Against Trump, for example. Not that I have heard.

[lame54]

11. If by due process you mean...

10 minutes with a public defender and the key piece of evidence a cops testimony

Sure, I can see the comparison to THE MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE against Trump because he barely tries to cover himself because he's gotten away with it his whole life

The same thing

[MineralMan]

12. I do not run the DOJ. I am not an attorney.

I'm also not a criminal of any kind.

I'm not competent to arrest, try, or judge any criminal case. I know, however, that before someone like Trump is convicted, there will be a long court case, tons of evidence presented, and a competent defense made. He will not have an overworked public defender. His defense will use every possible means to delay, obfuscate, petition the court, and whatever else it can do to keep someone like Trump from being convicted of anything.

All of which means that it is not a simple matter to bring him or anyone else involved in any of this to justice. Preparing those cases is complicated, time-consuming, and difficult. I can do nothing about how our criminal justice system operates. I can, however, describe how hard it is going to be to convict a former President of anything.

I want Merrick Garland to take his sweet time and build such an ironclad case that he cannot possibly lose in court or in a jury deliberation. Can that be done? I do not know, honestly. Perhaps not. It certainly will not be done in one year, or even two. If Trump ever comes to trial, it will be some long time from now. Meanwhile, there are dozens and hundreds of other cases connected to Trump to deal with.

My guess is that Trump dies before ever appearing in a criminal court to face charges. He's old, just like I am, so I will probably never see it happen.

[lame54]

13. Someone like Trump - aka...

Someone who is above the law

[MineralMan]

14. You're the one saying he is above the law, not me.

I want him put on trial. However, I realize how complex that is going to be to make happen.

What would you do to him? And how would you do that? The only path to justice goes through the DOJ. And you have nothing to do with it, any more than I do. There is no alternate path.

[lame54]

15. Yes, I absolutely am saying that

[JI7]

16. Right Wingers try to get on these juries

while others try to avoid it.

They got a sympathetic jury that would never vote to convict . Same as those juries refusing to convict racists