
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer shared her "disappointment" on Thursday regarding President Donald Trump's statement that he would consider pardoning two men convicted of plotting to kidnap her in 2020.
"(I'm) very disappointed that they are even considering it, frankly," Whitmer told WOOD on Thursday. "We have to condemn political violence, no matter who it comes from, no matter who it is aimed at," she said. "It does a disservice to everyone if we do anything short of that."
The two men in question, Adam Fox of Grand Rapids and Barry Croft Jr. of Delaware, were convicted in 2022 of plotting to abduct the governor and use weapons of mass destruction. They were sentenced to 16 and nearly 20 years in prison, respectively. Prosecutors said the plot was motivated by anger over Whitmer's COVID-19 public health orders.
Despite being convicted in a second trial after the first ended in a hung jury, and the subsequent rejection of their appeals, President Trump cast doubt on the verdicts Wednesday, calling the case "somewhat of a railroad job." He added, "They were drinking and I think they said stupid things."
Just now: Pres Trump says he's considering a pardon for the ppl who plotted to kidnap @GovWhitmer
— Raquel Martin (@RaquelMartinTV) May 28, 2025
"I'm going to look at it... It looked to me like some sort of a railroad job."- @POTUS @WOODTV @WLNS pic.twitter.com/r3QHTtAeJ4
The court, however, concluded earlier this year that the defendants were "ready and willing to commit these crimes long before being introduced to any government informants," rejecting claims of entrapment.
"When the president was shot at in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first people on either side of the aisle to condemn it," Whitmer noted.
"I will be making my thoughts known to the White House and I hope they take it into consideration," she said.
Fourteen people were charged in the broader plot, with five acquitted and others convicted at the state or federal level.
Trump's potential pardon of Fox and Croft would add to the president's latest pardoning spree where he has pardoned two MAGA reality TV stars, the son of a million-dollar donor, and a sheriff convicted of issuing badges in exchange for bribes.
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