Trump MULLS Pardons – Were Whitmer Plotters SET UP?

President Trump is considering pardons for two men convicted in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, calling the trial a “railroad job” and suggesting FBI entrapment may have played a role.

At a Glance

• Trump is weighing pardons for Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, who were convicted in the Whitmer kidnapping plot
• The President described the trial as a “railroad job” and suggested the men may have been entrapped by federal agents
• Croft received a 19-year sentence while Fox received 16 years in federal prison
• Ed Martin, Trump’s new pardon attorney, has referred to the case as “fed-knapping”
• Nine members of the Wolverine Watchmen militia group were ultimately convicted in connection with the plot

Trump Signals Potential Pardons for Whitmer Plot Convicts

President Donald Trump has indicated he may pardon Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, two men sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their roles in a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The potential pardons mark another significant move by the President in using his clemency powers to address what he views as injustices in the legal system. The case gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic when federal authorities arrested members of the Wolverine Watchmen, an anti-government militia group allegedly angered by pandemic restrictions and concerns over gun rights.

The Justice Department charged 14 members of the group with the plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer from her vacation home, with nine ultimately being convicted or pleading guilty. Croft, identified as a ringleader, received a federal prison sentence exceeding 19 years, while Fox was sentenced to 16 years. 

The group allegedly conducted surveillance of Whitmer’s vacation home and training exercises before their arrest while attempting to purchase explosives from undercover agents.

Claims of Entrapment and “Railroad Job”

In discussing the potential pardons, Trump expressed skepticism about the convictions and suggested the defendants may have been victims of entrapment by federal authorities who had infiltrated the group. “I will take a look at it,” Trump stated when asked about pardoning 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, you know, they were drinking and I think they said stupid things.”, said Trump.

The President mentioned that people from “both sides” of the political spectrum have approached him about pardoning the conspirators. Defense lawyers for Croft and Fox previously accused the FBI of entrapment, arguing that federal agents played an outsized role in the development of the plot. Two other participants, Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks, received reduced sentences for cooperating with prosecutors, further complicating perceptions of the case.

New Pardon Attorney Reviewing the Case

Ed Martin Jr., the newly appointed pardon attorney for the Justice Department, has indicated a willingness to review the sentences in the Whitmer case, referring to the incident as “fed-knapping.” Martin has drawn parallels between those convicted in the kidnapping plot and individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol events, whom Trump pardoned over 1,500 of on the first day of his second term. The involvement of the Justice Department’s pardon attorney signals the administration’s serious consideration of clemency in this high-profile case.

“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”, concludes President Trump.

The potential pardons come amid reports that Governor Whitmer, once a vocal critic of Trump, has been accused by some of aligning with the President as she reportedly considers a potential presidential run in 2028. The Wolverine Watchmen case represents another instance where Trump has used or considered using his pardon power in cases that have become politically divisive, reinforcing his approach to presidential clemency that often diverges from his predecessors.