DETROIT — A ringleader of an alleged plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer fantasized about hog-tying her and displaying her body on a table, according to federal prosecutors.
The new allegation, along with explicit talk about executing Whitmer's bodyguards and taking hostages in a "wartime" attack, emerged in a court filing as prosecutors tried to rebut a defense claim that five men accused in the kidnap plot were entrapped by FBI informants and undercover agents.
While opposing a defense request to dismiss the criminal case, prosecutors revealed new details and what they portrayed as incriminating statements by some of the accused plotters that show they eagerly and voluntarily joined the plot.
Statements in spring and early summer 2020 by alleged ringleader Adam Fox, 38, of Potterville, and others predated the first contact the defendants had with government agents and informants, prosecutors wrote in the Friday court filing. The filing cites Facebook voice messages and recorded conversations.
"I'm actually kind of serious about this. But I want to have the governor hog-tied, laid out on a table while we all pose around like we just made the world's biggest god-damn drug bust, bro," Fox said in his first discussion with an informant June 14, 2020, according to the filing.
"Right?" the informant said, according to the filing.
"Honestly dude, we need two hundred men," Fox said, according to the government. "And we need to be able to say we're able to charge her, then we take the building, we take f---- hostages. I mean, it is what it is. It's f---- wartime. It's time to f----charge these a-----."
Fox's lawyer Christopher Gibbons declined comment Monday.
Fox is one of five men awaiting trial in March on kidnap conspiracy and other charges in federal court in Grand Rapids.
A sixth man, Ty Garbin, 26, of Hartland Township, pleaded guilty and is serving a six-year, federal prison sentence.
Eight others are facing state charges.
Defense lawyers have argued there was no conspiracy and that government agents and informants entrapped the men.
Prosecutors said Friday the plot originated with Fox and Delaware trucker Barry Croft, that other members voluntarily joined the conspiracy and the accused plotters were predisposed to commit the crime.
To prove entrapment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler wrote, there must be undisputed evidence that defendants were induced to commit the crime and that there was a "patently clear absence of predisposition."
Prosecutors also rejected defense claims that the case should be dismissed because, as a defense lawyer argued, the FBI paid informants who ingratiated themselves with the defendants.
"Almost all informants are compensated, financially or otherwise," the prosecutor wrote. "And 'ingratiation' is expected — an informant can hardly be expected to gather information by alienating people."
The alleged plot materialized before the defendants were ever approached by informants, Kessler wrote.
On May 1, 2020, one month before the conspiracy originated, accused plotter Daniel Harris, 24, of Lake Orion, told fellow Wolverine Watchmen militia member Pete Musico about using a time-delayed detonation cord in an explosive device, prosecutors wrote.
"I can make things go boom if you give me what I need," Harris said, according to the filing. "(P)retty sure if the founding fathers saw how s--- was being run they'd be looking at us like ... 'kill them.'"
Musico, 44, of Ypsilanti proposed arresting Whitmer for treason, "but observed the media might not be on their side," the prosecutor wrote.
"Regardless of what we did the media would spin it in a way that looks bad on us," Harris said, according to the filing. "Personal opinion: shouldn't let it stop us from doing what we think is right."
Members of the alleged plot attended a national militia meeting in Dublin, Ohio, in June 2020 during which Croft, 46, "enthusiastically advocated" kidnapping Whitmer, the prosecutors wrote.
Croft also said he had God-given permission to commit a terrorist act and explained the plot to an FBI informant, according to the filing.
"Wham! A quick precise grab on that f---- governor," Croft said, according to the filing. "And all you're going to end up having to possibly take out is her armed guard."
Croft suggested using three snipers armed with infrared scopes "so they're f---- shooting at heat signatures, dropping those f---- armed guards before we even broach the f---- house," according to the filing. All that's left leaving is her, understand?"
There was no immediate comment from Croft's lawyer, Josh Blanchard, on Monday.
Accused plotter Brandon Caserta, 33, of Canton Township signaled his willingness to participate during one recorded conversation Aug. 23, 2020, prosecutors said.
"Whatever we do in the future, this is my personal choice to be involved in here," Caserta said, according to the filing. "So I voluntarily consent, and I, uh, accept responsibility for anything that happens to me. So, you know, my word is, is solidified as far as what's going on.
"I'm not, if I ever get hemmed up, I'll do, do my time," Caserta said.
He has pleaded not guilty.
