(Source: MIRS.news, Published 12/07/22) Five men will head to trial on charges they assisted in the summer 2020 plot to kidnap the Governor.
Antrim County District Judge Michael Stepka Wednesday said testimony from two FBI agents as well as videos and other exhibits of the alleged plot are enough to send the defendants – Shawn Fix, Eric Molitor, and twins William Null and Michael Null, all of Michigan, and Brian Higgins, of Wisconsin – to circuit court for trial.
"In my mind, there is clearly a criminal conspiracy here," Stepka said as he summarized the evidence. "… They knew what they were doing. They were all involved in moving the plot to kidnap the Governor."
Each defendant is charged with providing material support for an act of terrorism while the Null brothers, Fix and Molitor also face a felony firearms charge. A pretrial hearing was set Dec. 19.
Testimony in the preliminary examination for the five men took place over three days ending Sept. 1.
The testimony claimed the defendants actively participated in discussions with Adam Fox, the alleged leader who is awaiting sentencing in federal court on the conspiracy to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in summer 2020.
According to the testimony, the four participated in field training exercises where discussions about the kidnapping occurred.
At one training, participants used a "kill house" designed to practice how they'd move through the Governor's home and included possible plans, such as posing as a pizza delivery person, to gain access to Whitmer.
The Null brothers, Higgins and Molitor also participated in the surveillance of Whitmer's home, according to the testimony.
