The verdicts against Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were read out in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, presided over by U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker. The jurors said they could not agree on the verdicts again with Adam Fox, whom prosecutors described as the leader of an anti-government group, and Barry Croft Jr. A misdemeanor was announced, prompting prosecutors to pledge to try Fox and Croft again. Fox, Croft and Harris faced additional charges. The two most serious, the kidnapping conspiracy and the explosives conspiracy, carry possible life sentences. In a statement, Whitmer’s chief of staff, JoAnne Huls, said: “There must be accountability and consequences for those who commit heinous crimes. “Without responsibility, extremists will be encouraged.” Defense attorneys portrayed their clients as trustworthy weekend warriors prone to wild debates and often high on drugs. FBI undercover agents and informants, lawyers said, tricked the men into agreeing to a conspiracy. Prosecutors have provided evidence that the men were discussing Whitmer’s abduction before the FBI sting began, searching her cottage and trying explosives. The jury was asked to find out if the men were dangerous domestic terrorists or swindlers who spoke of extreme violence, including the hanging of leaders “for treason”. Croft is from Delaware. The others are from Michigan. The decisions were announced a few hours after the jury stated that it is struggling to find unanimity in all 10 categories. The judge told the jurors to continue working on the fifth day of the consultation. The jurors appeared after the meal to say that they are still at a dead end in some cases. Harris and Caserta were acquitted of conspiracy. Harris was acquitted of charges related to explosives and weapons. Fox attorney Christopher Gibbons said the acquittals showed shortcomings in the government’s case. “We will be ready for another trial … We will finally get what we wanted from this, which is the truth and justice that I think Adam is entitled to,” Gibbons said. Discussions resumed earlier with a court clerk handing over a large plastic bag containing pens, known as exhibit 291. The pens were requested before the jurors went home on Thursday. The pens stuck to a commercial-grade firework were intended to act as shrapnel, the researchers said. The group reportedly detonated an improvised explosive device during training in September 2020. In its final discussion on April 1, U.S. Assistant Attorney Nils Kessler said Croft wanted to test the explosive as a weapon to use. against Whitmer’s security team. Prosecutors offered testimony from undercover agents, an informant and two men who pleaded guilty to the plot. The jurors also read and listened to covertly recorded conversations, violent social media posts and chat messages. Whitmer blamed the conspiracy on former President Donald Trump for inciting anger over the coronavirus restrictions and his refusal to condemn right-wing extremists. In a statement, Huls, Whitmer’s chief of staff, said: “Today, Michigan and Americans – especially our children – are living through the normalization of political violence. Conspiracy to kidnap and assassinate a governor may seem like an anomaly. “But we have to be honest about what it really is: the result of violent, divisive rhetoric that is very common across our country.” He added: “The governor remains focused on her work on behalf of Michigan and all the people of Michigan. “This includes tackling violence and threats to our democracy.”
