Appeals Court Overturns Convictions in Michigan Governor Kidnapping Plot
DETROIT (AP) — On Monday, a Michigan state appeals court overturned the convictions of two men involved in the 2020 scheme targeting Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The court’s decision affects Pete Musico and Paul Bellar, previously convicted of providing material support for a terrorist act. These convictions were linked to their roles in a broader plot.
Joe Morrison, another defendant in the case, had his conviction vacated in June, setting a precedent that the appeals court felt compelled to follow for Musico and Bellar. The court ruled that the charge of kidnapping cannot be considered an underlying violent felony under Michigan’s terrorism statutes, thus invalidating the convictions on technical grounds.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel criticized the ruling, describing it as “linguistic gymnastics.” She intends to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court to review the cases.
The trio—Morrison, Musico, and Bellar—were not directly implicated in the actual kidnapping attempt. Bellar had relocated out of Michigan weeks before the FBI’s October 2020 arrests, while Morrison and Musico claimed to have severed ties with principal conspirators.
Despite this, all three were affiliated with a paramilitary group that had previously conducted training with Adam Fox. Fox, identified as a leader in the conspiracy, is serving a 16-year federal sentence for his role.
The plot aimed to abduct Governor Whitmer from her vacation residence shortly before the 2020 presidential election, motivated by anger over strict COVID-19 measures implemented by Whitmer and other officials. The conspirators also cited perceived threats to gun rights. Governor Whitmer remained unharmed, as undercover agents and informants had penetrated Fox’s group, thwarting the plan.
Overall, the investigation into the kidnapping conspiracy has yielded varied outcomes for prosecutors. Out of the 14 individuals charged, five were acquitted in different trials.
