In return, prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence lower than the maximum allowed by the prosecution, which would be life imprisonment.
In addition to the six accused in the Federal Court, eight other people were indicted in the case by the state in October.
As the Detroit News first reported, the FBI first became aware of the scheme in early 2020 through a social media group, according to the federal criminal complaint.
The case underscored political tensions in Michigan, which reached new heights when Whitmer faced a reaction against the restrictions she imposed earlier this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Observers pointed to then President Donald Trump’s rhetoric towards the governor and his state, including a tweet in which he urged residents to “free” Michigan from restrictions.
As part of the plea bargain, the government may ask Garbin to testify against the other five federal defendants during a March 23 trial. Garbin has already cooperated with the government in sharing information about the plot, according to the agreement.
CNN’s Devan Cole, Sonia Moghe and Jason Hanna contributed to this report.