Federal prosecutors argue the men were not entrapped. The government alleges the defendants were upset over coronavirus restrictions. And conspired to kidnap Democrat Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.
According to BuzzFeed News, the Justice Department had already announced agent Jayson Chambers would not be testifying either.
Agent Chambers had his own private security firm, Exeintel, which was linked to an internet troll while employed by the FBI.
“The defendants have produced no evidence,” Assistant US Attorney Nils Kessler wrote, responding, “showing SA Chambers had a financial stake in the outcome of this case.” He added that Chambers left Exeintel “without ever making a deal with a client or deriving any financial benefit.”
Prosecutors say any suggestions from defendants that these incidents undermine the case is false. And these are all “irrelevant collateral issues.”
The government claims that the five men facing federal trial Barry Croft, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, Adam Fox, and Brandon Caserta were plotting during the spring, summer, and early fall of 2020. to “snatch” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from her lakeside Michigan vacation home and potentially spirit her out of the state.
