Barry Croft Jr. of Bear, Delaware, was found guilty Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2022, of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer out of anger over her handling of the pandemic, ending a dramatic trial that highlighted the growth of violent extremism in America. Croft will be sentenced Dec. 28, 2022. Co-conspirator Adam Fox was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Dec. 27, 2022.
Here’s a look back at our coverage since the case began in 2020:
Delaware man among those charged in plot to kidnap Michigan governor
A Delaware man is among 13 militia operatives charged in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Barry Croft, a 44-year-old from Bear, is in federal custody in Delaware and made an initial appearance in district court. For more, click here.
Tracing the online footprints of Delaware man charged in plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor
In the years before he was arrested and accused of plotting to kidnap the governor of Michigan, there were hints that Barry Croft saw violence as a political solution. For more, click here.
Feds reveal more details about Delaware man they say led plot to kidnap Michigan governor
Barry Croft told a group of militia men that he was given permission by God to commit murder, a federal agent said during a court hearing. For more, click here.
‘They’re amateurs,’ Feds say of Delaware man, others charged in plot to kidnap Michigan governor
Just because they weren’t successful doesn’t mean they weren’t dangerous. This is what the prosecution argued in court in convincing a judge to order six men to stand trial on charges they plotted for months to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer because they were angry over her lockdown order. For more, click here
Delaware man could face life in prison with new charges in Whitmer kidnap plot
A federal grand jury has added weapons of mass destruction charges against three suspects, including Barry Croft, accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in an alleged plan that involved blowing up a bridge to slow down the police. For more, click here
Delaware man awaiting trial in Michigan governor kidnap case gives TV interview
A PBS documentary series aired footage of a new prison interview with Barry Croft Jr. For more, click here
Entrapment defense in Whitmer kidnapping plot case fuels conspiracy
Lawyers representing some of the men charged in the alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer argue that their clients were set up by law enforcement. The accusation appears poised to test a deeply divided country on the high-profile domestic terrorism case. For more, click here
Feds: Whitmer kidnap suspect Barry Croft doesn’t want public to hear this evidence yet
Barry Croft Jr. doesn’t want the world to hear him talking about how God told him to commit an act of terrorism, or his intent to kidnap Michigan’s governor ahead of his trial, arguing it could taint the jury selection process. For more, click here
6 Whitmer kidnap suspects indicted. 1 called for killing police, feds say
Barry Croft was formally indicted Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, after being arrested by federal agents and charged in the kidnapping conspiracy targeting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. For more, click here
Delaware man awaiting trial for alleged plot kidnap Michigan governor seeks release from jail
Barry Croft asks to be released from prison as he awaits court hearings. In court filings, federal prosecutors characterize Croft as one “ringleader” in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer alongside at least a dozen others charged in both federal and state courts. They claim releasing Croft, whom they describe as a “violent extremist,” would be “unreasonable.” For more, click here.
Delaware man charged in Michigan governor kidnap plot pardoned despite recent gun arrest
Before being charged with orchestrating the plan to violently kidnap Michigan’s governor, Barry Croft received breaks that both kept him from returning to prison and won him a governor’s pardon in April of 2019 for his prior crimes. For more, click here.
2 Whitmer kidnap plot suspects found not guilty; mistrial declared for other 2
The historic Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot case ended with no convictions, delivering a blow to the government as it failed to convince a jury that four militia members were domestic terrorists determined to harm the governor because of her COVID-19 restrictions. For more, click here.
Last 2 Whitmer kidnap suspects will go to trial again; judge denies request to toss case
A federal judge denies motions to acquit the remaining two suspects in the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, telling the men and their attorneys there was still enough evidence for the government to make a case against them in a second trial. U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker informed Adam Fox, Barry Croft, their attorneys and government prosecutors that a start date for a second trial is tentatively set for Aug. 9. For more, click here.
Jury convicts Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr. in Whitmer kidnapping plot
In a do-over for the government, a federal jury convicted two men charged with plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer out of anger over her handling of the pandemic, ending a dramatic trial that highlighted the growth of violent extremism in America.
The jury deliberated for about eight hours over two days before delivering the guilty verdicts against Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., who were convicted on all counts and face up to life in prison for crimes they insisted were hatched by the FBI. For more, click here.
