Two of four men were acquitted Friday in a conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020, motivated by fury at the Democrat's tough COVID-19 restrictions early in the pandemic.
The jury's verdicts against Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were read in the federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the case presided over by U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker. Jurors said they couldn't agree on verdicts again Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. Prosecutors described Fox as a ringleader of an anti-government group.
To counter that entrapment claim, prosecutors entered evidence that the men discussed abducting Whitmer before the FBI sting began. They went way beyond talk, including scouting Whitmer's summer home and testing explosives, prosecutors told jurors.Earlier Friday, U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker acknowledged the struggle of deliberations. Decisions to convict or acquit must be unanimous.
In his closing argument on April 1, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said Croft wanted to test the explosive as a possible weapon to use against Whitmer's security team. He quoted him as saying the pennies would be so hot they could go “right through your skin.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Liberals to introduce two-year ban on foreign homebuyers in budget: sourcesThe Trudeau government is set to deliver a budget Thursday that would make it illegal for foreigners to buy residential properties in Canada for the next two years, CTV News has learned.
Read more »
Entire student body of two Toronto schools banned from Dollarama after 'disruptive behaviour'The entire student body of two Toronto schools have been banned from a Dollarama location after a number of 'disruptive' incidents at the store.
Read more »
Roots eyeing store expansion in U.S. two years after retreatIn 2020, the retailer permanently closed seven locations there and filed bankruptcy for its U.S. subsidiary
Read more »
Two more coaches join Flores' discrimination lawsuit against league, teamsTwo more coaches have joined former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores's class action lawsuit alleging discrimination against Black candidates for top-level coaching and management jobs in the National Football League (NFL), according to an amended complaint filed on Thursday.
Read more »