Lessons from Embedding with the Michigan Militia – 5 Questions Answered about the Group Allegedly Plotting to Kidnap a Governor

increase the numbers of strong white families and white babies.

The document detailing the federal charges says the men used sexist language when discussing the governor, including the word “bitch.” That seems to confirm that their anger may have been sparked not just by Whitmer’s lockdown orders, but also the fact that she’s a woman.

4. Was this Influenced by President Donald Trump?
It is impossible to say definitively whether these men were inspired by anything Pres. Donald Trump has said or done.

However, the president has used inflammatory language criticizing Whitmer – including a tweet just two days after a large anti-lockdown protest including armed protesters surrounded the state Capitol building. That tweet, on April 17, 2020, simply declared “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”

Around the same time, Facebook reportedly alerted the FBI to online discussions that related to this group’s alleged plot.

Whitmer herself has said the president’s rhetoric is partially responsible for the plot, including his refusal to denounce white supremacists during the Sept. 29 presidential debate.

In the wake of the arrests, Trump continued to attack Whitmer, saying she had done “a terrible job” battling the coronavirus pandemic and accusing her of not being grateful enough to “My Justice Department” for its work on the case.

5. Were They a Serious Threat?
As a specialist on Michigan militias, I’ve been asked several times since the news broke whether this group posed a real threat, in terms of being likely to act on its plan and kidnap or harm Gov. Whitmer.

Members of other militia groups in the state reported to me after the arrests that they do not believe these men were “smart enough” to pull off anything like this.

I heard similar comments about the suspected weaknesses of Hutaree members a decade ago. In 2010, nine members of that group, another Michigan militia, were arrested on federal charges that they planned a series of events to kill large numbers of police officers. Those charges were ultimately dismissed by a federal judge who said all they were doing was talking, though a few of the group were convicted of more minor charges involving weapons possession.

The involvement of informants and undercover agents may also raise concerns about FBI practices, which have been criticized as fabricating entire plots to entrap innocent people in cases that alleged Islamic terrorism.

These are the issues to keep an eye on, as the details emerge and the case unfolds.

Amy Cooter is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Vanderbilt University. This articleis published courtesy of The Conversation.