President Donald Trump is facing heavy criticism after he openly considered pardons for the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and claimed that their trial was a "railroad job."
During Trump’s first term, in 2020, six men were charged by federal prosecutors with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat who the GOP attacked for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The indictment detailed how the men—some connected to a militia group—allegedly surveilled Whitmer’s vacation home and devised a plan that included detonating explosives to destroy a nearby bridge in order to hinder law enforcement response. The plot was ultimately foiled, and Whitmer was unharmed.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for ex-Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney in D.C., Trump said:
"I will take a look at it. It's been brought to my attention. I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job, I'll be honest with you. It looked to me like some people said some stupid things."
"They were drinking and I think they said stupid things but I'll take a look at that and a lot of people are asking me that question from both sides, actually. A lot of people think they got railroaded."
You can hear what Trump said in the video below.
Trump's remarks downplay the severity of the matter.
Of the six federal defendants, Barry Croft and Adam Fox were convicted at trial and sentenced to more than ten years in prison, following a mistrial in their first attempt. Two others pleaded guilty and received prison sentences, while the remaining two were acquitted.
Defense attorneys argued that the defendants were merely fantasizing about violence, portraying them as disaffected men who liked to “play army” rather than pose a real threat. They also raised entrapment claims, accusing undercover FBI agents and informants of orchestrating the plot.
However, a federal appeals court recently upheld the convictions of Croft and Fox, rejecting arguments that the trial judge had improperly limited their entrapment defense. And despite the clear and indisputable facts, Ed Martin, the newly appointed pardon attorney at the Justice Department, said last week that he intends to take a “hard look” at the high-profile case.
Many have condemned Trump's words while noting just how serious and dangerous the plot actually was.
Addressing Trump's remarks during a radio interview, Whitmer said Trump had previously told her in a private Oval Office meeting that he would not consider pardons for the men convicted of plotting to kidnap her.
Whitmer said that not condemning political violence "does a disservice to everyone." She said that now she's seen this "revelation," she is "not sure how to process it." She said she would reach out to Trump over the weekend.
Whitmer also noted that she "was one of the first office holders on either side of the aisle to condemn" the assassination attempt on Trump's life last July. She said "anything short of condemnation creates a dangerous space for people that are sworn an oath to do the work of the public."
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