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The five men accused in the plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer are in court for a preliminary hearing. An FBI special agent who is an expert in counterterrorism is answering questions about the investigation. @WOODTV
Information from an informant allowed the FBI to have access to encrypted messages. The agent says it also provided the information about the code they used to communicate. For example “make a cake and send it” according to the agent referred to a bomb. @WOODTV
The agent said a meeting in Dublin, Ohio brought together militias from 4 or 5 different states to plot. Targets discussed were Governor Whitmer and the Governor of Virginia because of lockdown orders. @WOODTV
According to the agent, the men trained in Munith, near Luther, also a location in Wisconsin mid-July. @WOODTV
The FBI agent says the men had plotted to blow up a bridge to slow police response for an attack planned to kidnap the governor at her vacation home in Northern Michigan. Was talk to paint a boat black to use in the attack. @WOODTV
According to the agent, one plan was to take the governor and leave her alone on a boat in the middle of the lake but not throw her overboard. @WOODTV
The court played a recording. The agent said it was the men discussing kidnapping the Governor of Michigan. In the recording a man said if you are not down for kidnapping get out of here. @WOODTV
Investigators said the original plan was to conduct the operation the last week of October but Fox wanted it the week earlier in order to have more time before the November election. @WOODTV
The agent says Fox had suggested clearing the basement of the vacuum shop and conducting closed quarter combat training. @WOODTV
The men allegedly talked about acquiring explosives during the July training in Wisconsin. The agent said they discussed needing $4,000 and planned to pool their money. @WOODTV
An attorney during cross examination asked if the informant was pushing people toward the plot with other leaders in the group. @WOODTV
The attorney is asking if the informant received money for expenses from the FBI. The agent said he did but he has not received reward money. @WOODTV
The agent says one plan the men had was to kidnap Governor Whitmer and take her to another state for trial. @WOODTV
