Accused of flirting, juror dismissed from Whitmer plot trial

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Accused of flirting, juror dismissed from Whitmer plot trial

October 15, 2022

JACKSON, Mich. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a young woman from the jury hearing the trial of three men in connection with a 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after attorneys accused her of flirting with one of the defendants.

Judge Thomas Wilson announced Friday that the woman has been removed from the jury, two days after attorneys raised concerns the juror was having too much non-verbal communication with defendant Paul Bellar, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported.

“It didn’t just happen on one day — it happened over multiple days,” Wilson said of the juror’s behavior. “I decided it’s safer to err on the side of caution.”

Wilson said he has never seen such behavior in nearly 35 years of practicing law. The juror took the decision well, he said.

Bellar, 24, was a member of a paramilitary group, the Wolverine Watchmen. He is standing trial with co-defendants Joseph Morrison and Pete Musico. The three are charged in state court in Jackson, Michigan, with providing material support for a terrorist act. The men have pleaded not guilty, claiming they were entrapped by an FBI informant and his handlers.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/michigan-gretchen-whitmer-jackson-kidnapping-adam-fox-4b57cba0719b36ba3e1b59b7c81fdfa6


Paul Bellar, middle, appears before Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wilson on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022 for trial in Jackson, Mich. Paul Bellar, Joseph Morrison and Pete Musico are charged in connection with a 2020 anti-government plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. (J. Scott Park/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP, Pool)

[SunSeeker]

1. Let's hope the rest of the jury is not crushing on that idiot.

[William Seger]

2. Can you blame her?

What a hunk!

[SunSeeker]

3. I guess, if you like the chinless and brainless type...

[patricia92243]

7. LOL! n/t

[Aussie105]

4. "Hey you! Big boy!"

"Yeah you, I fancy you. Once I get you off this charge, you owe me, right?"

She had to go, really.

An excess of hormones has no place in a court room.

[Emile]

5. Is this a sexual attraction between right-wing loons?

[tavernier]

6. He's definitely bringing sexy back.

[hlthe2b]

8. Uggh, just uggh.

I'm glad they have a sane judge and prosecutors intensely aware of what was going on.

[Vinca]

9. Okay, ladies. On a scale of 1 to a million, how desperate would you have to be?

[Rhiannon12866]

10. She wanted to get off the jury. n/t

[Irish_Dem]

19. I know, something seems so off about this situation.

She wanted out of jury duty is a good explanation.

It was reported that she "took the news well" that she was being dismissed
which bolsters your theory.

Or perhaps she was mentally ill or on drugs.
Something off about her mental status.

[catbyte]

11. Yikes. She must be beyond desperate.

He gives off "Pointdexter" vibes from that old game, "Mystery Date."

[GreenWave]

12. Another incel not by choice?

[Renew Deal]

13. That's a new way to get out of jury duty.

[msfiddlestix]

14. Has anyone noticed the position of their hands? Is this a normal thing?

I don't know why it caught my attention. if it were a single individual, it wouldn't have seemed odd, but this image had me noticing and wondering if it's a PB or militia "standing at attention" thing.

[Emile]

15. I 🤔 they're missing their handcuffs.

[msfiddlestix]

16. I noticed that too.

[SharonClark]

17. Yes, it's normal.

[Irish_Dem]

18. Body language coaching by their attorneys.

To display innocence, vulnerability, compliance.

"We are not a threat to anyone, look how polite and respectful we are."

[msfiddlestix]

20. Yeah, and the jury is too stupid to notice a uniformed posture..

because nothing spells out decent citizenry being falsely accused of felony conspiracy etc than that picture.

[chowder66]

21. I believe the two men on either side of the defendant are his lawyers.