A 25 year old group member accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer pleaded guilty last Wednesday morning to a kidnapping plot. Ty Garbin is the first to be convicted in the high-profile case, and his detailed account of the alleged kidnapping plot could help prosecutors secure further convictions.
Garbin and five other men were arrested in October and accused of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer at her vacation home and put her on trial for treason. Seven other men were accused of a separate conspiracy to kidnap several government officials, including Whitmer.
Garbin appeared on Wednesday before US District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The kidnapping conspiracy charge he faces is punishable by life imprisonment.
The aircraft mechanic agreed to “cooperate fully” with the FBI, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Michigan State Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the ongoing investigations and testify against the other five defendants accused in federal court in Western Michigan of according to the plea bargain presented by prosecutors on Wednesday.
Judge Jonker highlighted Garbin’s plea bargain in court. “It could mean that one day you will be called to court and forced to tell the truth about what you know, even if it ends up hurting the people you know. Do you think you could do that?” he asked the defendant.
“I could, Your Honor,” Garbin replied.
Kent County Sheriff via AP File
Mr. Garbin will also serve as a witness against eight other defendants in the state court for cooperating with the plot and has agreed to undergo a polygraph exam. His guilty plea follows an order earlier this month to be tried along with five others accused of participating in the kidnapping plot who were also accused of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
Garbin admitted to the plea agreement to be a member of Wolverine Watchmen, an organization that officials call a “self-styled ‘militia’ group.” He also said in the agreement that three of his federal co-defendants were members of the group.
The detailed conspiracy by FBI agents in lawsuits included surveillance of Governor Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan.
In a private chat, Garbin used emojis to suggest blowing up a bridge near Governor Whitmer’s property to arrest the police, according to the FBI. In court on Wednesday, Garbin confessed to having participated in a night watch operation at the lawmaker’s vacation home.
The FBI also said that Garbin trained with firearms on his property and improvised explosive devices made with black powder, balloons and a fuse, layered with BBs.
As a convicted criminal, Garbin will not be allowed to own firearms.
“You cannot legally own a firearm again. Period,” advised Judge Jonker, adding, “I know that firearms have been your focus and interest. But they will not be.”
“I understand that, Your Honor,” said Garbin.
Prosecutors accused the Michigan man of suggesting militia members “[shoot] to the governor’s vacation home. “In a statement to the court, FBI special agent Richard Trask wrote that Garbin agreed to go after Governor Whitmer’s house,” even if it only resulted in the destruction of property, “and offered” to paint his personal boat black for support the surveillance of the lake holiday home where the holiday home is located. ”
Defense lawyers emphasized that the defendants were exercising their First Amendment rights, arguing that the defendants never carried out any kidnapping plans.
The conviction comes at a time when federal police are on high alert after the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. The Department of Homeland Security triggered a terrorism advice bulletin Wednesday, warning Americans of terrorist threats to the United States “fueled by false narratives”, including baseless allegations about the 2020 presidential election.
“The information suggests that some ideologically motivated violent extremists and objections to the exercise of government authority and the presidential transition, as well as other complaints fueled by false narratives, may continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence,” the bulletin said.
Former Department of Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff warned reporters on Wednesday about continuing threats to national security across the country, including state capitol buildings. “In the past few months, we have seen attacks by these extreme right groups, not only against the federal government here in Washington, but also against state capitals,” said Chertoff. “This is a national problem. It is not really a problem for Washington DC or the federal government.”
Garbin is due to appear for the July 8 ruling in the United States District Court in the Western Michigan District, Southern Division.