A judge has sentenced Adam Fox, a co-leader in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and planning to blow up a bridge to ease an escape, to 16 years in prison on Tuesday.
The defendant returned to federal court four months after he and his accomplice, Barry Croft Jr., were convicted of conspiracy charges during a second trial in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The two men were accused of leading a plot to whip up anti-government extremists prior to the 2020 presidential elections.
Gretchen Whitmer Kidnap Plot Suspect
The arrest of the suspects, as well as the capture of 12 other individuals, was a stunning conclusion to a tumultuous year of racial strife and political turmoil in the United States. The American government had pushed for a life sentence for the two defendants, arguing that Croft offered bomb-making skills and ideology.
On the other hand, authorities said that Fox was the "driving force" who urged their recruits to take up arms, kidnap Whitmer, and kill anyone who stood in their way. However, Judge Robert J. Jonker said that while Fox's sentence was needed as a punishment and deterrent to future similar acts, the life-in-prison sentence request was not necessary to achieve such objectives, as per NPR.
Jonker said that life in prison was too much, arguing that something less was able to get the job done without issue. He later added that 16 years of imprisonment has been on his mind for a "very long time."
The judge also said that he had considered the emotional baggage that Michigan Gov. Whitmer will have to carry due to the attempted plot to kidnap her. He said that the situation will undoubtedly affect other people who are in public office or are considering public office.
According to BBC, 39-year-old Fox and his colleagues allegedly attempted the plot to kidnap Whitmer because they opposed the COVID-19 rules that the lawmaker imposed early on in the health crisis.
Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison
Fox and other individuals allegedly planned to take the Michigan governor by force and at gunpoint to take her to stand "trial" on bogus treason charges. The militia group's kidnap plot was primarily motivated by their opposition to public health measures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
However, prosecutors added that Fox was hoping to spark a "second American revolution" and push the country into armed conflict ahead of what proved to be a contentious presidential race in November 2020 between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
While prosecutors described the suspect as the brains behind the kidnap plot, Jonker said that Fox did not stand out as a "natural leader." But the judge did acknowledge that "a lot of fuel" had been needed to fund conspiracies similar to the plot, saying that Fox was able to supply that fuel.
Jonker said that there was a need for public understanding of the consequences of such actions and wrongdoing. He added that there was an impact on the nation's overall governmental system, not only a physical threat to Whitmer, but emotional baggage, CNN reported.
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