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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Gov. Whitmer Responds as Trump Considers Kidnap Plot Pardon
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer after arriving at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan on April 29, 2025. Credit - Jim Watson—Getty Images Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan has expressed her disappointment after President Donald Trump said he would 'take a look at' pardoning the men who were convicted of plotting to kidnap her in 2020. 'I'm disappointed that they're even considering it, frankly,' Gov. Whitmer, a Democrat, said in an interview with WOOD-TV on Thursday. Whitmer said she intends on expressing these feelings to the White House, also. She went on to condemn political violence as a whole—something Trump was also a victim of in July 2024 after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Penn. 'You know, when the President got it in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first people on either side of the aisle to condemn it,' Whitmer said. 'We have to condemn political violence, no matter where it comes from, no matter who it's aimed at. It does a disservice to everyone, if we do anything short of that.' Trump's comments were made in the Oval Office on Wednesday when he swore in Jeanine Pirro as D.C.'s interim U.S. attorney. 'I will take a look at it. It's been brought to my attention,' Trump told reporters when asked if he would pardon the men. '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.' In October 2020, during Trump's first term in office, the federal government revealed its bust of the elaborate conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer, who had been criticized by right-wing politicians, including Trump, over her COVID-19 policies. The investigation resulted in the charging of over a dozen people linked with a local rightwing militia group, the Wolverine Watchmen. In the end, there were nine combined convictions and guilty pleas and five acquittals in the case. Read More: 'A Perfect Storm.' The Michigan Plot Lays Bare the Dangers of Ignoring the Far-Right Threat The same day that the Department of Justice announced the initial arrests made in relation to the plot to kidnap Whitmer, Trump criticized her via social media. 'Governor Whitmer of Michigan has done a terrible job,' he wrote. 'My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist.' Trump's recent assertion that he'll consider pardoning the men who plotted the kidnap come after his new pardon attorney, Ed Martin Jr., stated on The Breanna Morello Show podcast that he wants to take a 'hard look' at the Whitmer case, particularly the two ringleaders—Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr.—who are serving longer sentences. 'On the pardon front, we can't leave these guys behind,' Martin Jr. More: A Stark Look at the Recent History of Political Violence in America Many consider Whitmer as a potential 2028 contender to run for President. Michigan is often regarded as a key swing state in the presidential race—with close margins in the past election and 15 electoral votes up for grabs. The second-term Governor also has a strong approval rating—63% according to the results of an Impact Research poll published in May. Whitmer has been a key Democrat who has spoken about working with Trump, rather than against him, leading some to see her as a diplomatic choice for the 2028 election, amid ongoing efforts to bridge political divides. Whitmer has yet to confirm that she plans to run for President—in fact, she denied she has any intention of running in 2028 when asked during a July 2024 interview with the Detroit Free Press. "I have no plans. I have no plans to run for President, not this year, not in the foreseeable future. I'm not making any plans on that front," she said. Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ‘Disappointed' as Trump Considers Pardoning Men Who Plotted to Kidnap Her
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan has expressed her disappointment after President Donald Trump said he would 'take a look at' pardoning the men who were convicted of plotting to kidnap her in 2020. 'I'm disappointed that they're even considering it, frankly,' Gov. Whitmer, a Democrat, said in an interview with WOOD-TV on Thursday. Whitmer said she intends on expressing these feelings to the White House, also. She went on to condemn political violence as a whole —something Trump was also a victim of in July 2024 after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Penn. 'You know, when the President got it in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first people on either side of the aisle to condemn it,' Whitmer said. 'We have to condemn political violence, no matter where it comes from, no matter who it's aimed at. It does a disservice to everyone, if we do anything short of that.' Trump's comments were made in the Oval Office on Wednesday when he swore in Jeanine Pirro as D.C.'s interim U.S. attorney. 'I will take a look at it. It's been brought to my attention,' Trump told reporters when asked if he would pardon the men. '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.' In October 2020, during Trump's first term in office, the federal government revealed its bust of the elaborate conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer, who had been criticized by right-wing politicians, including Trump, over her COVID-19 policies. The investigation resulted in the charging of over a dozen people linked with a local rightwing militia group, the Wolverine Watchmen. In the end, there were nine combined convictions and guilty pleas and five acquittals in the case. The same day that the Department of Justice announced the initial arrests made in relation to the plot to kidnap Whitmer, Trump criticized her via social media. 'Governor Whitmer of Michigan has done a terrible job,' he wrote. 'My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist.' Trump's recent assertion that he'll consider pardoning the men who plotted the kidnap come after his new pardon attorney, Ed Martin Jr., stated on The Breanna Morello Show podcast that he wants to take a 'hard look' at the Whitmer case, particularly the two ringleaders—Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr.—who are serving longer sentences. 'On the pardon front, we can't leave these guys behind,' Martin Jr. said. : Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is often considered to be a potential 2028 candidate for the Democratic Party Many consider Whitmer as a potential 2028 contender to run for President. Michigan is often regarded as a key swing state in the presidential race—with close margins in the past election and 15 electoral votes up for grabs. The second-term Governor also has a strong approval rating—63% according to the results of an Impact Research poll published in May. Whitmer has been a key Democrat who has spoken about working with Trump, rather than against him, leading some to see her as a diplomatic choice for the 2028 election, amid ongoing efforts to bridge political divides. Whitmer has yet to confirm that she plans to run for President—in fact, she denied she has any intention of running in 2028 when asked during a July 2024 interview with the Detroit Free Press. "I have no plans. I have no plans to run for President, not this year, not in the foreseeable future. I'm not making any plans on that front," she said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she is 'disappointed' that Trump is considering a pardon for men who plotted to kidnap her
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday said that she's "very disappointed" that President Donald Trump is considering pardoning the men who were convicted of conspiring to kidnap her in 2020. The governor told NBC affiliate WOOD-TV that she's "very disappointed that they are even considering it, frankly." During an Oval Office event on Wednesday, Trump said he would "take a look at" pardoning the men. He added that he watched the trial and it "looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job." Two key players in the kidnapping plot — Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. — are serving long prison sentences on federal charges. Over a dozen men were originally charged in either state or federal courts in connection with the scheme. At the time, Whitmer said Trump was "complicit" in enabling extremism after comments he made about the Proud Boys during his 2020 presidential debate against Joe Biden. In her comments Thursday, Whitmer, a Democrat, pointed to her response to the attempted assassination of Trump at a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. "You know, when the president was shot at in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first people on either side of the aisle to condemn it," Whitmer said Wednesday ahead of the Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan. "We have to condemn political violence, no matter where it comes from, no matter who it's aimed at. It does a disservice to everyone if we do anything short of that." The governor added, "I'll be making my thoughts known to the White House and I hope they take it into consideration." A spokesperson for Whitmer declined on Thursday to comment further about Trump's remarks. The White House declined to comment for the story. The Michigan governor has faced criticism from fellow Democrats in recent weeks for meeting with Trump several times this year. In March and April, Whitmer met with Trump privately at the White House. But during the April meeting, Whitmer also stood in the Oval Office while Trump signed multiple executive orders targeting his political opponents. Whitmer was photographed in a now-viral image holding a binder over her face during the executive order signing. Later, her office clarified in a statement that Whitmer's "presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.' Later in April, Trump visited Michigan to announce a new series of fighter jets for the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, partially crediting Whitmer for bringing new resources to the base and even bringing her on stage at a rally in Warren, Michigan. Despite heightened scrutiny of her seemingly close relationship with the president, Whitmer has generally defended her decision to work with anyone, regardless of party, to get things done for her state. Early Thursday morning, Fight Like Hell — a super PAC affiliated with Whitmer — distributed internal polling that they said showed that the governor is receiving "strong marks" from Michiganders across the political spectrum for her work. 'Michiganders know when their leaders are putting in the work, putting service above self, and getting hard things done, especially when it comes to their pocketbooks. Governor Whitmer has never stopped focusing on bringing good-paying jobs and economic growth to Michigan, and she's never stopped bringing people together from across the political spectrum to get results. That's the leadership Michiganders want, and that's what Governor Whitmer has always done," Amanda Stitt, executive director of the PAC, said in a statement on Thursday released alongside the polling. This article was originally published on
NBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she is 'disappointed' that Trump is considering a pardon for men who plotted to kidnap her
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday said that she's "very disappointed" that President Donald Trump is considering pardoning the men who were convicted of conspiring to kidnap her in 2020. The governor told NBC affiliate WOOD-TV on Thursday that she's "very disappointed that they are even considering it, frankly." During an Oval Office event on Wednesday, Trump said he would "take a look at" pardoning the men. He added that he watched the trial and it "looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job." Two key players in the kidnapping plot — Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. — are serving long prison sentences on federal charges. Over a dozen men were originally charged in either state or federal courts in connection with the scheme. At the time, Whitmer said Trump was "complicit" in enabling extremism after comments he made about the Proud Boys during his 2020 presidential debate against Joe Biden. In her comments Thursday, Whitmer, a Democrat, pointed to her response to the attempted assassination of Trump at a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. "You know, when the president was shot at in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first people on either side of the aisle to condemn it," Whitmer said Wednesday ahead of the Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan. "We have to condemn political violence, no matter where it comes from, no matter who it's aimed at. It does a disservice to everyone if we do anything short of that." The governor added, "I'll be making my thoughts known to the White House and I hope they take it into consideration." A spokesperson for Whitmer declined on Thursday to comment further about Trump's remarks. The White House declined to comment for the story. The Michigan governor has faced criticism from fellow Democrats in recent weeks for meeting with Trump several times this year. In March and April, Whitmer met with Trump privately at the White House. But during the April meeting, Whitmer also stood in the Oval Office while Trump signed multiple executive orders targeting his political opponents. Whitmer was photographed in a now-viral image holding a binder over her face during the executive order signing. Later, her office clarified in a statement that Whitmer's "presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.' Later in April, Trump visited Michigan to announce a new series of fighter jets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, partially crediting Whitmer for bringing new resources to the base and even bringing her on stage at a rally in Warren, Michigan. Despite heightened scrutiny of her seemingly close relationship with the president, Whitmer has generally defended her decision to work with anyone, regardless of party, to get things done for her state. Early Thursday morning, Fight Like Hell — a super PAC affiliated with Whitmer — distributed internal polling that they said showed that the governor is receiving "strong marks" from Michiganders across the political spectrum for her work. 'Michiganders know when their leaders are putting in the work, putting service above self, and getting hard things done, especially when it comes to their pocketbooks. Governor Whitmer has never stopped focusing on bringing good-paying jobs and economic growth to Michigan, and she's never stopped bringing people together from across the political spectrum to get results. That's the leadership Michiganders want, and that's what Governor Whitmer has always done," Amanda Stitt, executive director of the PAC, said in a statement on Thursday released alongside the polling.
New York Post
19-05-2025
- New York Post
Michigan college student Connor Lotterman killed at house party in ‘intentional' shooting
A Michigan college student was killed when multiple gunshots were fired through the floor at a house party in an 'intentional' shooting, according to reports. Connor Lotterman, a 19-year-old engineering student at Grand Valley State University, was struck in the head by a recklessly shot bullet fired from an upstairs bedroom during the May 9 party, WOOD-TV reported. The tragic scene unfolded just after 11 p.m. in Tallmadge Township, MI, 6 miles east of the school's campus. Advertisement 4 Grand Valley State University student Connor Lotterman died after being shot during a house party in Tallmadge Township, Michigan on May 9, 2025. Langeland-Sterenberg Yntema Funeral Homes Officials say a 20-year-old suspected gunman unloaded several rounds from his own gun into the floorboards as 10-20 people were partying inside. 'The shooting was quite intentional,' Ottowa County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jake Sparks told the outlet. 'Multiple rounds were fired. It wasn't like as if it were a one-shot accidental discharge. This was numerous rounds discharged. Although the result of the shooting led to an accidental death, this shooting was intentional.' Advertisement Lotterman was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but died on May 10, three days shy of his 20th birthday. The coroner's officer ruled Lotterman's death an accident, with alcohol suspected of playing a role. 'Encourage people to be smart, firearms and alcohol don't mix that's for sure,' Sparks said. 'I think this situation could've been avoided without those things mixing.' 4 The tragic scene unfolded just after 11 p.m. in Tallmadge Township, MI, 6 miles east of the school's campus. WOOD-TV Advertisement 4 Lotterman was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but died on May 10, three days shy of his 20th birthday. Langeland-Sterenberg Yntema Funeral Homes The suspected gunman has not been publicly identified as police and prosecutors are considering criminal charges in the fatal shooting. Lotterman was the youngest of five and is survived by his parents, siblings, grandparents and nieces and nephews, according to an online obituary. His sister mourned her younger brother in a touching birthday message posted to social media. Advertisement 'Thank you for being the best little brother a girl could ask for,' Marielle Lotterman wrote in the tribute. 'I am so thankful to God for the 20 amazing years you had on this earth.' 4 Officials say a 20-year-old suspected gunman unloaded several rounds from his own gun into the floorboards on the second floor as 10-20 people were partying inside. WOOD-TV Lotterman was completing his second year at GVSU when he was killed. 'The Grand Valley community is saddened by Connor's tragic death,' Dean of Students Aaron Haight said in a statement obtained by WOOD-TV. 'On behalf of President Mantella, the Laker community extends our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.'
