Thread by @julie_kelly2

Closing arguments about to begin in Whitmer fednapping trial.

Prosecutor Nils Kessler up first.

"Kidnapping is wrong. You can't snatch a governor. They wanted to set up a second American civil war."

Kessler claims plot began in late 2019, cites Barry Croft's social media posts

Kessler desperate to convince the jury the fednapping plan originated before Dan Chappel, main FBI informant, got involved in March 2020.

Fox attended 2 rallies in Lansing amid talk of "storming" the Capitol, Nessler says.

Nessler claims Fox recruited Chappel. Keep in mind...

Fox lived in basement of vacuum repair shop without running water or toilet. Chappel and 2 undercover FBI agents posing as girlfriend and boyfriend reached out to Fox and his girlfriend in June 2020 posing as "like minded" patriots.

Chappel and Fox exchanged thousands of texts.

Kessler going thru various events incl surveillance trip to Whitmer cottage in Sept. 2020. Government's biggest problem is every meeting, excursion plotted and executed by FBI assets.

Night before surveillance trip, FBI agent testified a "case team" meeting to discuss details

Of course the problem for defense is the comments prosecutors are reading is that they sound scary. Jury will weigh whether they are guilty of this crime or capable of doing something else if they're released.

Nessler claims Croft and Fox had "kidnapping kits" when arrested.

Defense has noted there are thousands of hours of government recordings---jury hearing short, govt-selected clips. One clip was lifted from the middle of a sentence.

Nessler discussing how Fox and Croft attempted to build a bomb--this would be used to blow up bridge near cottage

"That's why the government had to insert an undercover agent to pretend to be the bombmaker to keep them from exploding something." LOL

Undercover FBI agent "Red" pretends to be explosive expert, shows group a video of exploding vehicle.

Video made by FBI. Red tries to sell...

the targets a "menu" of explosive material to build a bomb. Sets price tag of $4,000.

Red and several other FBI UCEs, informants drive targets to Whitmer cottage on Sept 12. Red brought night vision equip, 2-way radios for props. Also paid for by FBI. Took photos for evidence.

Nessler insists Chappel "risked everything" to become an informant. "He didn't do it for the money."

FBI compensated Chappel ~$60,000 for 7 months work, more than he made as mail hauler. In Dec 2020 after hoax ended, FBI gave Chappel $23,540 in cash in an envelope.

Nessler...

downplaying absurd "plot" says it doesn't matter that it wasn't feasible. Plan was trip to Whitmer remote cottage, blow up a bridge to prevent police from accessing property, killing her security, kidnapping Whitmer, taking her to boat, launching her into middle of Lake Michigan.

Another plan suggested by FBI was using helicopter (!) to fly her from official gov residence in Mackinac Island.

Nessler closes by asking "all the things that could have gone wrong. Somebody was gonna get hurt.

THIS IS IMPORTANT. The FBI is LUCKY no one did get hurt or killed.

I've thought of this often. FBI promoted violence during this plot, introduced a bomb maker, tried to give Fox a credit card with $5k limit to buy guns and ammo, held training and surveillance trips, got stoned with them while amping them up on lockdowns and Floyd riots.

It's a miracle no one in the group, or Whitmer herself, was hurt or killed no matter how hard the FBI pushed its violent proposals.

Keep in mind, FBI tried to do the same in Virginia, sent "bomb" recipe to a target there.

amgreatness.com/2022/04/14/the…

Defense attys Chris Gibbons (Fox) and Josh Blanchard (Croft) up next.

Gibbons noting how this was considered a TEI--terror enterprise investigation--"unfolding all the powers of the FBI."

One agent testified a TEI is extremely rare. "A big deal" he said.

"The FBI is not...

supposed to create domestic terrorist so the FBI can arrest them. The FBI is not supposed to create a conspiracy."

"Not only did Dan (informant) violate the rules, his handlers knew he was breaking the daily rules they gave him."

FBI had "little regard for their own rules...

or the safety of our governor, Gretchen Whitmer."

Gibbons running thru brief clips used by govt from 1,000 hours of recordings.

Jury only heard one hour, 29 minutes, and 35 seconds of audio. Govt played ZERO HOURS ZERO SECONDS of group meeting in Michigan in August 2020.

"LET THEM KNOW THIS IS NOT WHAT A FAIR TRIAL LOOKS LIKE IN AMERICA."

If Adam Fox gave one minute of direction during surveillance trip on 9/12, there were 4 FBI assets and 4 wires.

"Play it," Gibbons says.

"Do not endorse or reward this behavior," Gibbons says of FBI conduct.

Gibbons takes swipe at judge who instructed jury that impossibility of committing conspiracy doesn't mean defendants are not guilty.

Reads actual jury instructions. “I'm not going to tell you impossibility is no defense because that’s not true.

"Send this show packing."

"For all these reasons, this travesty of a trial created by the U.S. government and the FBI, I submit to you that Fox is not guilty."

"It is time to end this debacle it is time to restore Adam's freedom."

Gibbons wraps. Break before Josh Blanchard's close which will be epic.

Josh Blanchard, atty for Barry Croft, up now.

"Until I got to this trial, I thought our justice system was the pinnacle of [justice] around the world."

Our system is "supposed to be about justice, transparency, and the truth. The whole truth."

Blanchard accuse FBI of lying...

under oath. This includes FBI informants and sworn agents.

FBI agents, informants testified certain statements were made but never played recordings.

"They don't exist. They're not real. Those statements were not made."

Blanchard now discussing Jenny Plunk, informant tasked...

with trailing Croft. "The FBI paid her thousands of dollars to keep Barry connected" to Fox and others.

"Prosecutors chose not to put Jenny Plunk on the witness stand. They chose not to have her talk to you about what was said on those phone calls. She was working for them."

Blanchard going hard on all the recordings and texts collected by govt that the jury never saw or heard.

Blanchard: "The FBI doesn’t exist, it should NOT exist, to make people look like terrorists when they aren't."

"We saw how far the FBI was willing to go."

"The FBI is a national law enforcement agency. And Barry Croft pissed them off. Saying something bad about the FBI in Texas or Baltimore will put you in a cage in Michigan."

"This isn't Russia. This isn't how our country works. The FBI has told us that the truth doesn't matter."

"You have the power to put a stop to that today. You can tell the government that half-truths are not enough. With your verdict you have the ability to protect the rights of all of us."

Blanchard reminds jury Croft has been locked up for 684 days.

Ends close. Govt rebuttal next

Prosecutor Nessler back up. He mocks defense suggestion we live in Russia.

"The FBI is corrupt? It shouldn't exist? C'mon."

Ummmm yes. Nessler criticizes defense for not calling FBI handlers or other informants to testify.

But DOJ removed Chambers and Impola (Dan handlers)...

during last trial amid scandal. Robeson, key informant, twice said he'd invoke 5th so judge didn't compel his testimony. No way would judge have forced those agents, informants to testify.

Nessler downplaying FBI role in organizing, executing all the excursions. "Not someone...

dragged against their will."

"Thank God the FBI ended this before anyone got hurt or killed."

Nessler done. More judge instructions. Now to jury.