MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *8 guilty, 5 NG*

  • #701
Thursday, October 6th:
*Trial continues for all (Day 2) (State case-Jackson County) (@ am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer*Paul Edward Bellar (21/now 23) of Milford arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/20/20) with gang membership, providing material support for terrorism & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Was arrested in Columbia, SC & Michigan attempting to have him extradited to Michigan. $500K Cash Surety Bond. Bond reduced to $75K (12/18/20) with restrictions. Bond @ $150K (3/29/21). Out on bond.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
*Joseph Matthew Morrison (26/now 28) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $75K with restrictions.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms. Bond reduced (12/20/21) to $5K Cash/Surety providing he will wear a GPS tether. Out on bond.
*Pete Musico (42/now 43) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist act & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $100K with restrictions. Out of jail.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
Trial began on 10/3/22 with jury selection & ended 10/4/22. Trial began on 10/5/22. (2 weeks).
Court info from 10/8/20 thru 8/9/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-2 (10/3 to 10/4/22) reference post #699 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...rnor-gretchen-whitmer-oct-2020.546457/page-35

10/5/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 1: Opening statement by Assistant Attorney General Bill Rollstin & defense attorneys Leonard Ballard (Morrison), Andrew Kirkpatrick (Bellar) & Musico's attorney -no name given.
for more info see post #700 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...whitmer-oct-2020-4-guilty-2-ng.546457/page-35
Trial continues on 10/6/22.

Musico & Morrison are founding members of the Wolverine Watchmen. Morrison is considered Watchmen’s “Commander” & is known by the online moniker “Boogaloo Bunyan”.
 
  • #702
  • #703

The trial, which could last up to three weeks, will be livestreamed on Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson’s YouTube channel.

Does anyone else find it weird that the judge has a YouTube channel? Is this a different judge on this case and 'Judge Wilson' is just a YouTube personality? Please tell me it is.
 
  • #704

Kaleb Franks was sentenced to four years in federal prison Thursday.

The sentence represented a big break because Franks pleaded guilty to a charge punishable by up to life in prison. Prosecutors and his lawyer argued Franks deserved the break because he testified against two ringleaders during two federal trials in Grand Rapids and helped convince jurors the would-be kidnappers were not entrapped by a team of undercover FBI agents and informants.
 
  • #705
Friday, October 7th:
*Trial continues for all (Day 3) (State case-Jackson County) (@ am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer*Paul Edward Bellar (21/now 23) of Milford arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/20/20) with gang membership, providing material support for terrorism & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Was arrested in Columbia, SC & Michigan attempting to have him extradited to Michigan. $500K Cash Surety Bond. Bond reduced to $75K (12/18/20) with restrictions. Bond @ $150K (3/29/21). Out on bond.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
*Joseph Matthew Morrison (26/now 28) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $75K with restrictions.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms. Bond reduced (12/20/21) to $5K Cash/Surety providing he will wear a GPS tether. Out on bond.
*Pete Musico (42/now 43) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist act & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $100K with restrictions. Out of jail.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
Trial began on 10/3/22 with jury selection & ended 10/4/22. Trial began on 10/5/22. (2 weeks).
Court info from 10/8/20 thru 8/9/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-2 (10/3 to 10/4/22) & Trial Day 1 (10/5/22) reference post #701 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...rnor-gretchen-whitmer-oct-2020.546457/page-36

10/6/22 Thursday, Trial Day 2: State witnesses: FBI special agent Henrik Impola, who served as the primary case agent in the investigation into the Wolverine Watchmen. No other info available.
for more info see post #702 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ge-36[/ur] Trial continues on [B]10/7/22[/B].
[COLOR=rgb(165, 42, 42)][SIZE=3]Mu...ine moniker “Boogaloo Bunyan”.[/SIZE][/COLOR]
 
  • #706
@JerseyGirl - are you finding any articles on what might have happened yesterday in Trial. As usual I am coming with very old one.
And if court is skipping Monday & starting again on Tuesday, 10/11?

TIA! :)
 
  • #707
@JerseyGirl - are you finding any articles on what might have happened yesterday in Trial. As usual I am coming with very old one.
And if court is skipping Monday & starting again on Tuesday, 10/11?

TIA! :)


Prosecutors on Friday played secretly recorded audio from a 2020 meeting in the basement of a vacuum shop as they tried to show jurors how a paramilitary group was connected to a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

It was contemptuous talk about police and politicians in the makeshift home of Adam Fox — who was recently convicted of conspiring to abduct Whitmer — as a step toward kicking off a U.S. civil war, known to extremists as the “boogaloo.” The FBI intervened in the fall of 2020.

FBI agent Hank Impola testified that talk turned to training. He said Musico invited Fox to gun drills at a rural property in Jackson County.




There was no mention of trial resuming Monday or Tuesday.
 
  • #708
^ Monday is Columbus Day, so courts are probably closed.

Thanks for the updates, Niner and JerseyGirl.
 
  • #709

Prosecutors on Friday played secretly recorded audio from a 2020 meeting in the basement of a vacuum shop as they tried to show jurors how a paramilitary group was connected to a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

It was contemptuous talk about police and politicians in the makeshift home of Adam Fox — who was recently convicted of conspiring to abduct Whitmer — as a step toward kicking off a U.S. civil war, known to extremists as the “boogaloo.” The FBI intervened in the fall of 2020.

FBI agent Hank Impola testified that talk turned to training. He said Musico invited Fox to gun drills at a rural property in Jackson County.




There was no mention of trial resuming Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks for all those - I shall check them out over the weekend!! :)

And just googled Michigan courts are closed on Monday as BetteDavisEyes mentioned.
 
  • #710
@JerseyGirl - have not asked about the Antrim County guys since 9/25 - just looked it up & just coming up with the last article you posted where the judge would decide if there was probably cause.

TIA! :)
 
  • #711
@JerseyGirl - have not asked about the Antrim County guys since 9/25 - just looked it up & just coming up with the last article you posted where the judge would decide if there was probably cause.

TIA! :)

I haven’t found any updates. The judge must not have made a ruling yet.
 
  • #712
  • #713

Oct. 11, 2022

(AP) - The results of two federal trials won’t be shared with jurors hearing evidence against three men who are charged in connection with a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

A judge made his ruling Monday after a fourth day of testimony against Joe Morrison, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar. They’re charged in Jackson, Michigan, with providing material support for a terrorist act.

Jurors haven’t heard that two men were acquitted of conspiracy charges in federal court in a separate trial and two more were convicted.

Judge Thomas Wilson says disclosing the results to the jury might be unfair to prosecutors who are running the state trial against Morrison, Musico and Bellar.
 
  • #714
Tuesday, October 11th:
*Trial continues for all (Day 4) (State case-Jackson County) (@ am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer*Paul Edward Bellar (21/now 23) of Milford arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/20/20) with gang membership, providing material support for terrorism & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Was arrested in Columbia, SC & Michigan attempting to have him extradited to Michigan. $500K Cash Surety Bond. Bond reduced to $75K (12/18/20) with restrictions. Bond @ $150K (3/29/21). Out on bond.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
*Joseph Matthew Morrison (26/now 28) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $75K with restrictions.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms. Bond reduced (12/20/21) to $5K Cash/Surety providing he will wear a GPS tether. Out on bond.
*Pete Musico (42/now 43) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist act & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $100K with restrictions. Out of jail.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
Trial began on 10/3/22 with jury selection & ended 10/4/22. Trial began on 10/5/22. (2 weeks). Judge Thomas Wilson presiding.
Court info from 10/8/20 thru 8/9/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-2 (10/3 to 10/4/22) & Trial Day 1-2 (10/5 to 10/6/22) reference post #705 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...rnor-gretchen-whitmer-oct-2020.546457/page-36

10/7/22 Friday, Trial Day 3: State witnesses: FBI agent Hank Impola. Prosecutors on Friday played secretly recorded audio from a 2020 meeting in the basement of a vacuum shop as they tried to show jurors how a paramilitary group was connected to a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. No other info available.
for more info see post #707 (articles) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t... Trial continues on Tuesday, [B]10/11/22[/B].
[COLOR=rgb(165, 42, 42)][SIZE=3]Mu...ine moniker “Boogaloo Bunyan”.[/SIZE][/COLOR]
 
  • #715
Not finding any articles on what happened yesterday - just the article I posted on #713.

Wednesday, October 12th:
*Trial continues for all (Day 5) (State case-Jackson County) (@ am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer*Paul Edward Bellar (21/now 23) of Milford arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/20/20) with gang membership, providing material support for terrorism & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Was arrested in Columbia, SC & Michigan attempting to have him extradited to Michigan. $500K Cash Surety Bond. Bond reduced to $75K (12/18/20) with restrictions. Bond @ $150K (3/29/21). Out on bond.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
*Joseph Matthew Morrison (26/now 28) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $75K with restrictions.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms. Bond reduced (12/20/21) to $5K Cash/Surety providing he will wear a GPS tether. Out on bond.
*Pete Musico (42/now 43) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist act & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $100K with restrictions. Out of jail.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
Trial began on 10/3/22 with jury selection & ended 10/4/22. Trial began on 10/5/22. (2 weeks). Judge Thomas Wilson presiding.
Court info from 10/8/20 thru 8/9/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-2 (10/3 to 10/4/22) & Trial Day 1-3 (10/5 to 10/7/22) reference post #714 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...rnor-gretchen-whitmer-oct-2020.546457/page-36

10/11/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 4: State witnesses: No info available. Trial continues on 10/12/22.
Musico & Morrison are founding members of the Wolverine Watchmen. Morrison is considered Watchmen’s “Commander” & is known by the online moniker “Boogaloo Bunyan”.
 
  • #716
From Monday:


New details are surfacing about the alleged extremists behind the plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, including how one militia member was outed after getting evicted from his apartment and left behind some personal belongings that raised red flags.

According to trial testimony, the landlord found a handwritten Boogaloo sign in defendant Paul Bellar's apartment, a militia training itinerary, a handwritten note about the rank structure of the militia group, and a notebook with code words, such as "dogs got ticks" — which stood for the feds, cops are onto us.

The landlord called the Milford police, who called the FBI.

Jurors on Monday heard from FBI special agent Henrik Impola, who testified about the so-called "Panic at the Bonfire" meeting, where Bellar is heard trying to assure the group that his roommate didn't spill any crucial details. Bellar said that the roommate "hates cops" and that he told police the codes were for an online game they play.

"They have probably been watching me for a while," Bellar says. "You think we got a rat?"

The jury also heard a chat between Bellar and Morrison, in which Bellar expressed concern that a member they knew as Big Dan was really working undercover — which he was.

"I think we’ve had a mole for a while now," Bellar tells Morrison, noting no one has ever been to Big Dan's house. "He’s got hella money … and a small, very cliche background story ... he’s been very quiet in our chat."


Both sides got testy Monday as they argued for more than an hour about whether the jury should be allowed to know that two men were acquitted in the first trial on federal charges in the case.

The defense wanted that information to be known; the prosecution did not, noting the convictions aren't being mentioned.
 
  • #717
From Monday:


New details are surfacing about the alleged extremists behind the plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, including how one militia member was outed after getting evicted from his apartment and left behind some personal belongings that raised red flags.

According to trial testimony, the landlord found a handwritten Boogaloo sign in defendant Paul Bellar's apartment, a militia training itinerary, a handwritten note about the rank structure of the militia group, and a notebook with code words, such as "dogs got ticks" — which stood for the feds, cops are onto us.

The landlord called the Milford police, who called the FBI.

Jurors on Monday heard from FBI special agent Henrik Impola, who testified about the so-called "Panic at the Bonfire" meeting, where Bellar is heard trying to assure the group that his roommate didn't spill any crucial details. Bellar said that the roommate "hates cops" and that he told police the codes were for an online game they play.

"They have probably been watching me for a while," Bellar says. "You think we got a rat?"

The jury also heard a chat between Bellar and Morrison, in which Bellar expressed concern that a member they knew as Big Dan was really working undercover — which he was.

"I think we’ve had a mole for a while now," Bellar tells Morrison, noting no one has ever been to Big Dan's house. "He’s got hella money … and a small, very cliche background story ... he’s been very quiet in our chat."


Both sides got testy Monday as they argued for more than an hour about whether the jury should be allowed to know that two men were acquitted in the first trial on federal charges in the case.

The defense wanted that information to be known; the prosecution did not, noting the convictions aren't being mentioned.

Now I am confused... BetteDavisEyes had mentioned Michigan court closed on Monday, but I do see they did have trial on Monday - that would have been Day 4, so I will correct & re-do my notes.

And Thanks for that article! :)
 
  • #718

A juror in the third Gretchen Whitmer kidnap trial is under scrutiny over concerns she is flirting with one of the defendants, smiling at him from the jury box and looking at him frequently — so frequently that the judge said he's going to keep an eye on her.

The defendant at issue is 22-year-old Paul Bellar of Milford, the youngest defendant charged.

A prosecutor raised the issue during a trial break on Wednesday, telling the judge that not only is the juror flirting with Bellar, but it appears he may be flirting back. They smile and nod at each other, the prosecutor said, adding that Bellar at one point clenched both his fists and shook them in an affirmative way while the juror was looking at him.

"We're very concerned about this juror," the prosecutor said.

Bellar's attorney conceded that he, too, had seen the two exchange glances. But he had an explanation for why Bellar was seen shaking his fists.

He was holding Skittles candy in his hand, his lawyer said.

"The shaking of the fist is because of Skittles .... 'cause guess what? It's his birthday today," defense attorney Andrew Kirkpatrick said, adding that his client is behaving himself.

"I have noticed her kind of looking. He knows. But he's not winking at her. He's not doing anything to encourage her," Kirkpatrick said. "I don't think that's a basis to get rid of this juror. ... Maybe she likes him — maybe she doesn’t. There's no way of telling what’s in the juror’s mind."
 
  • #719
from the article #718 above


The prosecution, meanwhile, is on edge as the trial has now stretched into day eight. The government's star witness who cracked the case, an undercover informant known as Big Dan, is next on the stand. Big Dan's handler, FBI agent Henrik Impola, was on the stand for seven days before being excused midday Wednesday.

I was wondering about Impola - now I know he was on the stand for the last 7 - I have 6 days thru yesterday. I am guessing they are counting jury selection as a day of trial. I am not... :)
 
  • #720
Thursday, October 13th:
*Trial continues for all (Day 7) (State case-Jackson County) (@ am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer*Paul Edward Bellar (21/now 23) of Milford arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/20/20) with gang membership, providing material support for terrorism & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Was arrested in Columbia, SC & Michigan attempting to have him extradited to Michigan. $500K Cash Surety Bond. Bond reduced to $75K (12/18/20) with restrictions. Bond @ $150K (3/29/21). Out on bond.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
*Joseph Matthew Morrison (26/now 28) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $75K with restrictions.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms. Bond reduced (12/20/21) to $5K Cash/Surety providing he will wear a GPS tether. Out on bond.
*Pete Musico (42/now 43) of Munith arrested & charged (10/7/20) & arraigned (10/9/20) with threat of terrorism (charge was dismissed on 3/29/21), gang membership, providing material support for terrorist act & carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bail set at $10M. Bond reduced (12/18/20) to $100K with restrictions. Out of jail.
*Charged (5/17/21) in Circuit Court with terrorist acts-provide MA, gang membership felonies & felony firearms.
Trial began on 10/3/22 with jury selection & ended 10/4/22. Trial began on 10/5/22. (2 weeks). Judge Thomas Wilson presiding.
Court info from 10/8/20 thru 8/9/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-2 (10/3 to 10/4/22) & Trial Day 1-3 (10/5 to 10/7/22) reference post #714 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...rnor-gretchen-whitmer-oct-2020.546457/page-36

10/10/22 Monday, Trial Day 4: State witness: FBI Special Agent Henrik Impola back on stand. Landlord (no name given) of Bellar’s.
10/11/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 5: State witness: FBI Special Agent Henrik Impola back on stand.
10/12/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 6: State witness: FBI Special Agent Henrik Impola back on stand.
for more info see post #718 (article here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...whitmer-oct-2020-4-guilty-2-ng.546457/page-36
Trial continues on 10/13/22.

Musico & Morrison are founding members of the Wolverine Watchmen. Morrison is considered Watchmen’s “Commander” & is known by the online moniker “Boogaloo Bunyan”.
 

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