Michigan Teacher Gives Scathing Resignation Speech

 

Michigan militia plot: ‘Plan A’ involved takeover of Capitol, followed by televised executions

 David Neiwert

Daily Kos

The militiamen who plotted to kidnap and execute Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer saw their operation mainly as a backup plan for a much more ambitious “Plan A,” prosecutors say. The plan was to assemble 200 armed “Patriots” who would take over the state Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan, and then hold televised executions of the state officials they took hostage.

According to a document filed by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office this week in response to an attempt by attorneys for one of the men to drastically reduce his bond, the militiamen devised the Capitol takeover plan alongside their schemes to abduct Whitmer from her summer home. At the end, they intended either to kill everyone inside the building or to simply set it aflame with everyone locked inside.

Members of the Wolverine Watchmen, as the plotters called themselves, conducted paramilitary training sessions to prepare for the dual attacks. Many of them had participated in a number of anti-Whitmer protests, calling her a “tyrant” for her COVID-19 pandemic public health measures such as business and school closures. These were protests at which violent rhetoric threatening Whitmer and other officials became common.

During one of the protests on April 30, armed men had attempted to invade the floor of the state House but were prevented from doing so by state police. The militiamen began scheming, thinking of ways to successfully overtake the Capitol building around that time.

The group had organized on social media, primarily Facebook, for their initial recruitment. “Wolverine Watchmen is a group of Patriots to network and assemble and recruit like minded individuals,” the statement on their private Facebook page read. “Develop regional QRFs and squad tactics. Only add people you trust no statist, no fudds, no bootlickers and no cops or feds. If you're serious get a wire and message an admin your username.”  

The group’s rules included references to the “Boogaloo,” the civil war movement to which the participants all subscribed. One such rule limited membership: “Boojahidden only, No feds, statist, cops, bootlickers or commies or ethnonationalist.”

A June 14 paramilitary training session at a property in Munith, Michigan, followed a schedule written out by plotters Pete Musico and Joe Morrison, including “ambush tactics,” “driver down situation,” and “taking a (possible) hostile vehicle over.” It also included medical training sessions.

“Plan A consisted of recruiting 200 men and then storm the Capitol building in Lansing while Congress was in session,” the prosecutors’ document said. “They were to take hostages, execute tyrants and have it televised. It would take about one week and that no one is coming out alive.

“The secondary plan was to storm the Capitol building in Lansing when Congress was in session. They would then lock the entrances/exits to the structure. They would then set the building on fire.”

According to prosecutors, the kidnapping plot arose only after members began to have doubts about the logistical issues regarding their initial plan to invade the Capitol. Musico believed the target was “a fishbowl,” and offered up his own “Plan B”—namely, to target politicians in their homes. After a June 28 discussion, the group of plotters began focusing their efforts on following that strategy, with Whitmer as the target.

The document included other revealing details about the plot, focusing primarily on Musico, whose attorneys were attempting to reduce his bond—which a judge had already lowered from $10 million to $100,000—to a mere $20,000:

• At one time, Musico claimed he had thrown a Molotov cocktail into a police officer’s home. “He stated he waited outside the back door of the house and planned to shoot the officer when he came out, but ultimately decided not to,” prosecutors state. according to the document.
• Musico also claimed that during the April 30 near-takeover event at the Capitol, he had attempted to get a Michigan State Police trooper to touch him at a rally at the Michigan State Capitol in 2020.
• The men also not only discussed targeting law enforcement officers at their home, they undertook tactical paramilitary training designed to confront police. “Put your vest on, gear up and hunt the rich,” Musico said, according to the document.

“Pete Musico, during a meeting, addressed the group and gave them an ultimatum: the group was heading toward ‘real shit’ action which required dedication to the group and cause,” the prosecutors stated.

“If they had been training to improve their tactical skills, that was OK, but they needed to leave immediately if they didn’t want to be part of what was coming. No one in the group left. … Musico also advised an individual that he was preparing to produce more pounds of C-4 explosives in anticipation of planned events.”

One of the plotters—Brian Higgins, 52, of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin—has also been fighting the charges in court. Higgins’ attorney is fighting his extradition to Michigan because Whitmer—the target of the kidnapping plot—signed the paperwork ordering him brought to the state.

In a court filing in advance of Wednesday's  status conference in Columbia County Circuit Court in Wisconsin, Higgins’ attorney, Christopher Van Wagner, wrote: “To put it more bluntly, the requisition was signed in an official capacity by someone with a clear, undeniable conflict of interest in the case against Higgins: the Michigan (governor), who as the named alleged victim has a direct and utterly undeniable personal interest in this matter.”

Higgins is accused of participating in the Wolverine Watchmen’s September field training exercise and discussing the plot with other members. He also accompanied the men in their surveillance of Whitmer's private vacation house near Traverse City, a police affidavit filed in the case claims.

"In particular, Brian Higgins, while on a nighttime surveillance of the Governor's home, provided the use of his night-vision goggles for the surveillance," the affidavit reads. "Additionally, he used a mounted digital dash camera located in his vehicle to record the surveillance of the Governor's home in order to aid in kidnapping plans."

On Thursday, the Wisconsin judge overseeing Higgins’ case continued the extradition hearing to mid-December, but denied him release on bail.

Six men charged in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

 The FBI was apparently well aware of the activities of the men charged Thursday and there does not seem to have been an imminent threat posed to the governor.

First, how long will it take before Donald Trump and the usual crowd of Republican cowards come forward to not only defend these fools, but start promoting them as patriots.  

This is the type of lawless behaviour that Donald Trump has encouraged starting with his announcement to run, throughout the campaign and has continued through his time in office.  Even though his rhetoric had led to violence against those in opposition to his polices. Republicans in general and Donald Trump in particular have failed to condemn those involved. 

An FBI-led investigation identified six men who were trying to plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The investigation involved multiple confidential sources and undercover FBI personnel.

Based on court documents, the FBI was well aware of the activities of the men charged Thursday and there does not seem to have been an imminent threat posed to Gov. Whitmer, a Democrat.

The documents identify the defendants as Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, and Brandon Caserta.

At a meeting in July, allegedly attended and recorded by one of the confidential sources, the men “discussed attacking a Michigan State Police facility, and in a separate conversation after the meeting, Garbin suggested shooting up the Governor’s vacation home," authorities allege.

  

Armed coronavirus lockdown protesters clash at Michigan's state capitol

Demonstrators returned to Michigan's state capitol two weeks after armed protesters attempted to enter the chamber.

The protests come as tensions rise over Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home orders due to the Covid-19 threat

• Protesters descend on Michigan capitol but rain washes away demonstration

Michigan extremists stoke violent talk ahead of Thursday anti-lockdown protest as commission cowers

David Neiwert for Daily Kos

The armed militiamen, “Boogaloo Bois” and anti-vaccination conspiracy theorists who have been leading the protests against COVID-19 lockdown measures are gearing up for a repeat performance Thursday of their April 30 anti-lockdown protest in Lansing, Michigan, with rhetoric calling for an armed takeover of the state Capitol and assassinating Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “We need a good old fashioned lynch mob to storm the Capitol, drag her tyrannical ass out onto the street and string her up as our forefathers would have,” one of them wrote on an anti-lockdown Facebook page—a sentiment that was repeated on that page and others.

Alarmed by the threats of violence, Whitmer and Democratic lawmakers—some of whom have said they intend to wear body armor to work Thursday—pleaded this week with the state’s Capitol Commission to ban guns from the Capitol grounds. The commission, dominated by Republicans, chose on Monday to study the matter instead.

The threats, as reported by Detroit Metro News, were not relegated to the fringes of the Internet, but could be found on Facebook pages with a combined 400,000 members. The pages, as the paper reported, were “filled with paranoid, sexist, and grammar-challenged rants, with members encouraging violence and flouting the governor’s social-distancing orders.”

The most common theme involved assassinating Whitmer. The participants also urged an armed takeover of the capitol on Thursday, replete with hangings of Democratic officials. Others announced they would refuse to participate in social-distancing and other anti-pandemic measures, notably wearing masks.

A sampling of the comments uncovered by the News:

“Drag that tyrant governor out to the front lawn. Fit her for a noose.”

“Either President Trump sends in the troops or there is going to be a midnight lynching in Lansing soon.”

“Plain and simple she needs to eat lead and send a statement to the rest of the democrats that they are next.”

“She needs her ass beat. Most of these politicians need a good ass whooping. Just. Punch there lights out.”

[Responding to a suggestion to bring guillotines] “Good ol’ fashioned bullets work better, but I like the enthusiasm.”

“Wonder how long till she’s hit with a shotgun blast.”

“Can we please just take up a collection for an assassin to put that woman from Michigan down.”

“We could’ve taken over the capital last time if we wanted. This was just a display. Next time won’t be!”

“If she thinks the last protest was bad she hasn't seen anything yet.”

“We haven’t had any bloodshed yet, but the populous is counting to three, and the other day was two. Next comes watering the tree of liberty with the blood of tyrants.”

[One man refused to wear a mask because he] “will not submit to their cultural Marxism.”

“I refuse to wear one. They cause more problems than they prevent and its a sign of being silenced and submission and its training for the forced vaccinations.”

“theres no such thing as Covid. Its radation [sic] poisoning coming from the 5g” [a reference to the conspiracy theory that 5G towers caused the pandemic].

Some of the bile was reserved for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who issued an opinion declaring that the Capitol Commission had the power to ban guns from the building. The threats against her were similar:

“We are sharpening a stick for you Dana.”

“DO you want me to bring the rope, shouldn’t be too hard to find a good tree.”

The pervasively violent nature of the rhetoric building up to Thursday’s “Judgement Day” rally in Lansing, combined with the ugly nature of the April 30 protest, convinced Whitmer to seek a ban on guns on the Capitol grounds from the Capitol Commission, comprised of six legislative appointees.

"There are legislators who are wearing bulletproof vests to go to work," Whitmer said Wednesday. "No one should be intimidated by someone who's bringing in an assault rifle into their workplace. And so there is conversation about changing that law. I think it's long overdue, and I absolutely support that change. You shouldn't be intimidated going to be the voice of the people who elected you."

Nessel had explained in her formal opinion that a ban on guns was fully in keeping with both state and federal gun law. "In Michigan, the concept of 'open carry' does not provide the unfettered right to bring firearms into any public space,” she wrote, noting prominently that the Michigan Supreme Court prohibited weapons through administrative order rather than any law approved by the Legislature.

“The Commission ... is a statutorily created instrumentality of state government, vested with broad authority to 'operate and manage' the Capitol site," she wrote.

Yet even at Monday’s meeting of the Capitol Commission the threats continued and intensified. According to commission member Margaret O'Brien, the virtual conference through which the meeting held received threatening messages throughout the session.

"They were saying things like they knew where people lived," said commission Vice Chairman John Truscott, a Republican. Another commission member who participated by phone, Bill Kandler, said "very vulgar" and "very racist" comments reportedly appeared on the Zoom app, including threats against commissioners and legislators.

Nonetheless, the commission voted 6-0 to “aggressively” study the issue further. A ruling before Thursday is unlikely. Whitmer said she was “very disappointed that the Capitol commission did not take action today to keep legislators safe.”

Some Democratic lawmakers announced that they would be wearing body armor to work on Thursday. Rep. Darrin Camilleri tweeted:

Because the Michigan Capitol Commission chose not to act today, I have to actively prepare for my safety this week when I go to Lansing.

Do I get a bulletproof vest?

Should I ask an armed guard to escort me?

The threatening rhetoric and behavior is not being reserved only for politicians; law-enforcement officers apparently are also in the line of fire. Michigan militiamen warned earlier this week that they would be blocking police from shutting down a barber shop in Owosso that had announced it would defy the lockdown orders.  

"Hopefully the police decide that fucking with pissed off armed men is a bad idea,” a commenter on Facebook wrote.

Questions And Answers Friday May 1

Question: Who calls armed failures storming a state capital very good people?
Answer: Why wannabe dictator and Kim-Jong un lover Fat Donnie Trump.

Question: Coronavirus; where did it come from?
Answer: Right wing conspiracy theorists will tell you it was manufactured at a lab in Wuhan. Or, it was created by the Democratic party with an assist from the Chinese government. Why? So Dotard The First wouldn't be reelected.

Question: In which country would a person spend more than a week in jail for 0.025 grams of pot?
Answer: Japan were they use electron microscopes to fight the evils of pot.


Question: Are you 99% sure or just guessing?
Answer: Yet another clairvoyant claims to know what has happened to Kim-Jong un.

Question: What asshole would boast that our Death Totals...Really Very Strong,Very Strong?
Answer: That was rhetorical. As only Joseph Stalin or the Orange Shitgibbon would make such a claim   

Donald Trump Is Really Trying To Kill People Because He's So Immature

A leader doesn't have to be perfect nor are they excepted to be yet you except them at times of national crisis to show empathy and concern for those effected by whatever calamity has befallen them.  Normal leaders would do that just not Donald Trump.  In his world if you're not showing complete fealty, utter loyalty and willing to fall on your sword for him you"re of no use to him. 

On Thursday on Sean Hannity's Fox News show he, Donald Trump the perpetual victim complained about Governor's Jay Inslee and Gretchen Whitmer of Washington and Michigan treatment of him. As they had the temerity to question his leadership thus far during the coronavirus pandemic.  He told Vice President Mike Pence not to call Gov. Inslee but that isn't the worst of it.

He has done this:

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Says Medical Vendors Told Not To 'Send Stuff' To Michigan

Mary Papenfuss

President Donald Trump’s latest target, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, told a radio station Friday that medical supply vendors informed her they’ve been told “not to send stuff” to her state amid the battle against COVID-19.

Whitmer, a Democrat, didn’t say if the orders were coming from the White House or if vendors may have been intimidated by Trump’s feud with the governor. But she did appear to link the problem to the president because she told WWJ-AM in Detroit that she tried Thursday night to call the White House to discuss the issue.

She couldn’t get through to Trump, who was at the time trashing Whitmer — whom he referred to as “that young ... woman governor from Michigan” — to Sean Hannity on Fox News. “We don’t like to see the complaints,” Trump said in a phone interview.