A Michigan appeals court has overturned the convictions of three men involved in a 2020 plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The court ruled that kidnapping does not qualify as a violent felony under state terrorism laws, invalidating the charges of providing material support for terrorism. The decision follows a June ruling that set a precedent for similar cases.
The convictions of Pete Musico, Paul Bellar, and Joe Morrison were vacated on Monday. Morrison's conviction was overturned in June, prompting the court to apply the same ruling to Musico and Bellar. The appeals court stated that kidnapping cannot serve as the basis for a terrorism-related conviction under Michigan law, as it is not classified as a violent felony.
The men were accused of secondary roles in the plot, which was disrupted by the FBI before any kidnapping attempt occurred. Prosecutors alleged the conspirators were motivated by opposition to Whitmer's COVID-19 restrictions and perceived threats to gun rights. The case involved undercover FBI agents and informants who infiltrated the group.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel criticized the ruling, calling it "linguistic gymnastics," and announced plans to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. The Wolverine Watchmen, a paramilitary group linked to the plot, was also mentioned in the ruling, though the court did not address whether the group qualified as a gang.
The overturned convictions include charges of providing material support for terrorism, commission of a felony motivated by gang membership, and possession of a firearm during a felony. The case may now proceed in district court, though the legal path forward remains uncertain.