Daily US Times: The FBI says it has busted a plot to abduct and overthrow Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

The Michigan governor has become a lightning rod for Covid-19 sceptics after enacting strict mitigation measures that were overturned last week by a judge.

Federal and state authorities in Michigan say the kidnapping plot involved six men who planned to hold a “treason trial” for her.

Mrs Gretchen Whitmer said: “Hatred, bigotry and violence have no place in Michigan,” and described the accused as “depraved”.

An undercover law enforcement source attended a June meeting in Dublin, Ohio, according to a sworn FBI affidavit, where a group of Michigan-based militia members discussed overthrowing state governments “that they believed were violating the US Constitution”.

The charging document states: “Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor”.

In one video, a suspect denounced the state’s role in deciding when to reopen gymnasiums during the coronavirus lockdown.

Investigators say, the men met in a basement that was accessed by a trapdoor hidden under a rug. Their phones were gathered and placed in another room to avoid any secret recordings, but the undercover FBI source had a separate recording device.

Thirteen people were arrested so far by investigators.

Six men – one from Delaware and five from Michigan – are accused in federal court of plotting the kidnap. They allegedly planned to hold a “treason trial” against the governor.

These six were named as Adam Fox, Daniel Harris, Brandon Casert, Barry Croft, Kaleb Franks, and Ty Garbin. On Wednesday, authorities raided Mr Garbin’s residence.

The other seven arrested face charges of gang-related offences and terrorism in state court in connection with the alleged abduction plot.

You may read: Trump refuses to take part in virtual TV debate