3 of the men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan's governor were regulars at 'boogaloo' events and anti-lockdown protests: Report
- Images and videos analyzed by The Washington Post showed three of the men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at anti-lockdown rallies in the spring.
- Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, and Daniel Harris could be seen at the gatherings, The Post reported.
- The FBI foiled a plot to kidnap the governor and to overthrow Michigan's government in early October, leading to charges against the three men and others.
- The Post said that the images appear to show a growing affiliation from the men with the so-called boogaloo movement.
Three of the men charged in the alleged plot to kidnap the Michigan governor were regularly seen at "boogaloo" and anti-lockdown events in early summer, The Washington Post reported.
The Post trawled footage and photographs from regular gatherings in the state in April, May and June, and found the same faces at event after event.
They included Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, and Daniel Harris, who are among the eight men in total charged with plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The three were arrested on October 7. The next day, the FBI announced that it had foiled a right-wing plot to overthrow Michigan's government, which included the planned kidnap of Whitmer.
Another five men identified by The Post are facing related state charges, which according to the Associated Press (AP) are for allegedly seeking to storm Michigan's Capitol and seeking a "civil war."
The boogaloo movement is a loosely-defined group known for wearing Hawaiian shirts and leis. They use the "boogaloo" term — derived from an 80s movie sequel — as a code word for civil war, according to the AP.
Protesters with apparent boogaloo associations attended both anti-lockdown and racial justice gatherings that spring, according to The Post. The Post identified apparent boogaloo markers on both Fox and Harris, but not Garbin.
Fox attended a protest at the Michigan Capitol on April 30 organized by the American Patriot Council, The Post reported. The group seeks to "Restore and sustain a constitutional government in the United States of America" according to its website.
Fox was also identified by The Post at a May 14 event that organizers Michigan United for Liberty branded "Judgment Day." A decal of Deadpool — a comic book character popular with the boogaloo movement — was spotted by The Post on his gun and matched to an image used on his Facebook page.
Facebook removed the page advertising the event, which garnered dozens of sexist and pro-violence comments, some personally aimed at Whitmer, according to the Detroit Metro Times. The Capitol was closed and legislators did not meet that day, The Post reported.
At a May 18 event, prominent local Republicans such as Mike Shirkey, Michigan's senate majority leader, joined protesters including Fox in Grand Rapids, according to The Post.
At this protest, Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf said that Whitmer's lockdown requirements were equivalent to "unlawful arrest," The Post reported.
Harris' apparent boogaloo associations emerged as time wore on, with his gun decorated with a Hawaiian-print holster marketed and sold in association with the movement at a May 20 event, according to The Post.
He also attended a June 6 Lake Orion racial injustice protest, at which he stood with men holding signs saying "boogaloo stands with you."
Days before a June 18 rally, an informant recorded Fox allegedly sharing details of plans to storm the Capitol, take hostages, and "arrest" the governor for "treason," The Post reported.
Images analysed by The Post show that Harris and Garbin gathered and talked at the rally, and that Fox also attended.
Harris and Garbin's identifications were confirmed by their lawyers, The Post reported.
Fox's lawyers did not respond to the paper's requests for comment, but The Post said it confirmed all other identifications with friends, family and acquaintances.