Defense seeks dismissal of indictment for Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot

[turbinetree]

Source: The Guardian

Five men are charged with conspiring to kidnap Democratic Michigan governor over coronavirus restrictions

Defense attorneys want dismissed the indictment against five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, because of what they call “egregious overreaching” by federal agents and informants.

The government alleges that the men were upset over coronavirus restrictions last year when they conspired to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat then spoken about as a possible vice-president, even scouting her second home in northern Michigan.

Five people are charged with kidnapping conspiracy and face trial on 8 March in Grand Rapids. They have pleaded not guilty and claim to be victims of entrapment. Federal prosecutors have argued the men were not entrapped.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/26/defense-dismissal-indictment-gretchen-whitmer-kidnap-plot-michigan-governor-coronavirus-covid

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It's a he said he said defense ......

[Wild blueberry]

1. Hell no!

Prison, chumps.

[onecaliberal]

2. Oh hell no.

[Rebl2]

8. Double

that hell no!

[iluvtennis]

16. Triple that - hell no.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. I thought Abscam ended entrapment defenses for good

[SCantiGOP]

11. Young folks on here might want to google Abscam for a fun read

Posing as rich Arab sheiks, FBI agents offered bribes to several members of Congress.
One guy from Florida had his video shown on TV. As he was stuffing big wads of cash into his various coat and pants pockets, he was heard to state, "Oh, I've got larceny in my heart."

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Hollywood made a movie about it, "American Hustle" but ignored the entrapment issue

and its effect on jurisprudence. It was generally considered that Sen. Harrison Williams had a legitimate defense with entrapment, but he was convicted. And the movie was really more about the 70s fast lane than about the details of what happened. In my view anyway.

[oldsoftie]

27. Not really. Look into some recent cases. The FBI has gotten brazen with some of it.

I dont think the govt agents should EVER be the ones to begin the plots. I dont know about THIS case, but thats whats happened in others; the agent talks up violence and sees who he can get to join in. Then provides them with info, tools, weapons etc. Then arrests them. I just think thats wrong

[bucolic_frolic]

28. It's the basis for a sting. Police use stings all the time. There's little defense against them. /nt

[Turbineguy]

4. What's wrong with the

"Fox News made me do it" defense?

[reACTIONary]

10. How about Twinkies? Meal Team Six....

... loves them some Twinkies!

[COL Mustard]

5. As Flip Wilson used to say

"The Devil made me do it!" They always have that excuse!

[paleotn]

6. Entrapment, my arse.

[NewDayOranges]

7. I think it's standard procedure for the defense

To ask for a dismissal before the trial begins... It's almost never dismissed but the request is one of the "t"s that have to be crossed!

[ShazzieB]

24. I think so, too.

IANAL, but mayve someone who is can tell us if we're right. All I know is what I've observed, which is that defense attorneys always seems to file for a dismissal, as you said. I agree that it seems to ve a "t" that is virtually always crossed, and only very rarely does anything seem to come of it.

Because of that, I never get worked up about these filings. I just roll my eyes and say to myself, "Defense attorneys be crazy."

[melm00se]

9. The defense in criminal cases will ALWAYS

move to have the case booted.

The normal timing for this is after the prosecution rests its case. Once the prosecutor utters the last breath of "the prosecution rests", the defense will immediately pop up and move to have the case dismissed because the "state has not proven their case" (whether they did or did not is immaterial...it is a procedural thing). If the defense does not that opens the door for an "inadequate counsel" appeal.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Perhaps Very Common

But, not always.
In March 2020 I was on a felony jury. That did not occur when the prosecution rested, at least in the presence of the jury.
And, in the opinion of all 12 jurors, the state did not prove guilt.
We deliberated for 20 minutes max before I took the first vote. 12 not guilty votes.
So, while that may be typical, I don't know that it's universal.
Maybe the defense knew how we were all leaning.

[Jilly_in_VA]

14. And in other news,

people in hell want a drink of cold water. HELL NO!

[orangecrush]

17. This

[Aristus]

18. If you can't do the time...

Oh heck; they’re right-wingers. I’m sure they know the rest

[dchill]

23. Oh, I don't know. Not likely they were fans of Baretta...

... OR Sammy Davis Jr.

[rpannier]

26. They're white

So... if you can't do the time, then you should receive something else, like release to your home and allowed to do what you want

[Evolve Dammit]

19. Lock 'em up. For a long time.

[Progressive Jones]

20. They should remain locked up based on how fucking ugly and trashy they look. nt

[ShazzieB]

25. LOL!

[Jilly_in_VA]

29. They

definitely are a sorry-looking bunch of neckbeards LOL

[DoBotherMe]

21. NO!

[dchill]

22. Governor Whitener was the only real intended ...

... victim of entrapment.

[tonekat]

30. No rules for the GQP?

As long as they want to injure/kill Dems, there's no penalty?

Screw that, I think in return for chuckleheads like Gym Jordan, Stonehead, etc. not testifying, the taxpayers should be able to go to their houses and help themselves to their assets!!