COVID started everything: Jury set in trial of 4 men accused of plotting Gov. Whitmers kidnapping over cor – MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI In the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping trial, COVID-19 and Whitmers pandemic response, which allegedly set off the would-be kidnappers wasnt far from prospective jurors thoughts.

There was a man struggling with its after-effects after he was hospitalized around Thanksgiving. There was another who lost his 46-year-old brother to the coronavirus.

And there was a woman whose husband lost his job during the pandemic. She sobbed as she told a judge that a previous illness left him unable to find new work.

Whos going to hire him? she asked.

Related: Man who admits Gov. Whitmer kidnap plan says co-defendants claims of FBI entrapment are false

After a long day of jury questioning, attorneys on Tuesday, March 8, settled on a dozen jurors and six alternates to hear the case against four men suspected of plotting to kidnap the governor.

Opening statements are set for Wednesday morning.

The defendants, Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta of Canton, Barry Croft Jr. of Bear, Delaware, Adam Fox of Wyoming and Daniel Harris of Lake Orion, are accused of plotting the governors kidnapping over her shutdown orders.

They had sympathizers among those in the jury pool.

Several said they were so upset by Whitmers pandemic orders they could not be fair judges.

Related: I think theyre guilty: Prospective jurors share thoughts on Gov. Whitmer kidnap case

COVID started everything, lets face it, a prospective juror, who was later dismissed, told Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker.

And I think people enjoyed the little power they got from COVID.

The judge said the focus of the trial will be the defendants alleged actions. COVID-19 will only play a part.

It was a triggering event that brings us here, but its not the issue, the judge said.

Related: FBI agents must reveal true names at Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot trial, judge rules

Caserta, Croft, Fox and Harris were charged in October 2020. Two others, Ty Garbin of Livingston Countys Heartland Township and Kaleb James Franks of Waterford, have pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy.

Garbin has been sentenced to seven years, three months in prison, while Franks awaits sentencing. In their plea deals, they agreed to testify against the others.

The government says they were part of a militia, the Wolverine Watchmen, whose members conspired to kidnap the governor at her Northern Michigan summer home.

Eight others are facing state charges.

The defendants say that undercover FBI special agents and paid informants pushed the defendants to take part in crimes.

Read more:

Irish on Ionia canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

Grand Rapids Public Schools lowers graduation requirements to help seniors impacted by pandemic

This coming week brings strongest warming rate of year, history shows

More:

COVID started everything: Jury set in trial of 4 men accused of plotting Gov. Whitmers kidnapping over cor - MLive.com