Three men who were tied to the plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) were found not guilty on Friday.
William Null, his brother Michael Null, and Eric Molitor were found not guilty of providing material support for a terrorist act and possessing a firearm when committing or attempting to commit a felony. They were the last of 14 defendants to face charges related to the 2020 kidnapping scheme.Nine of the 14 defendants have been convicted, with Adam Fox, the man authorities identified as the leader of the criminal conspiracy, sentenced to 16 years behind bars.
Molitor and William Null admitted they had taken gun training and that they had previously driven past Whitmer’s residence to scope out the property. Null testified that he and his twin brother got cold feet when the plot escalated to the point of using explosives. Molitor said Fox was “incredibly dumb” and wouldn’t be able to successfully pull off a kidnapping.
Before the verdict was reached, Assistant Attorney General William Rollstin implored the jury to convict. He said, “If you help in whole or even in part you’ve satisfied that element” of the crime. “Was he helping him to plan? Was he helping him prepare? The answer is absolutely,” Rollstin concluded.Authorities claim that the group led by Fox conspired to “unlawfully seize, kidnap, abduct and carry away, and hold for ransom and reward.
The group had been infiltrated by informants and undercover FBI agents months before the initial arrests were made on Oct. 8, 2020. These efforts “undoubtedly saved lives,” according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
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