Michigan jury acquits 2, deadlocks on 2 in kidnapping trial

Six men and six women deliberated for five days before acquitting Daniel Harris, 24, and Brandon Caserta, 34, of charges of conspiracy to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. After the jury became deadlocked on verdicts for two alleged plot leaders — Adam Fox, 38, and Barry Croft Jr., 46 — the judge declared a mistrial Friday. Federal prosecutors plan to charge Fox and Croft again.

What happened during the trial? Prosecutors showed evidence from undercover FBI agents and from two men who had earlier pleaded guilty to a plot to kidnap the governor over the COVID-19 restrictions she imposed on Michigan. One of the men, currently serving a six-year sentence, said they planned to kidnap Whitmer and stop Joe Biden from winning the presidential election. An FBI informant testified the men used a “shoot house” in Luther, Mich., to practice entering Whitmer’s vacation home. He said the defendants talked about detonating explosives and putting Whitmer “on trial.” But defense lawyers argued the men involved often spoke in hyperbole or were under the influence of marijuana. They accused agents of leading conversations. Harris, the only defendant to testify, said he never targeted Whitmer.

Dig deeper: Read my report in WORLD Magazine about a rise in threats against political figures.