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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Accuses Trump of Inspiring, Incentivizing and Inciting Terrorism

HeadlineOct 19, 2020

In Michigan, federal prosecutors have released videos of training exercises carried out by a militia accused by the FBI of plotting to kidnap Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The videos show heavily armed men in tactical gear firing assault rifles, working a Taser weapon and talking about taking action against “government thugs.” The videos were made public as Governor Whitmer accused President Trump of inciting domestic terrorism during a campaign rally in Muskegon, Michigan, on Saturday, where Trump once again assailed Whitmer’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and encouraged chants of “Lock her up!”

President Donald Trump: “And get your schools open. Get your schools open. The schools have to be open, right?”

Crowd: “Lock her up! Lock her up! Lock her up!”

President Donald Trump: “Lock — lock ’em all up.”

Crowd: “Lock her up! Lock her up! Lock her up!”

It was Trump’s latest attack on Michigan’s governor, whom he previously called “Gretchen 'Half' Whitmer” and “that woman from Michigan.” Governor Whitmer fired back Sunday morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “It’s incredibly disturbing that the president of the United States, 10 days after a plot to kidnap, put me on trial and execute me — 10 days after that was uncovered, the president is at it again and inspiring and incentivizing and inciting this kind of domestic terrorism.”

Last Thursday, police arrested 51-year-old Wisconsin resident Brian Higgins on charges he used night-vision goggles and a dashcam to surveil Governor Whitmer’s vacation home. He was the 14th person arrested in the alleged plot to kidnap Whitmer.

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