Closing Arguments Begin in Federal Trial in Kidnapping Plot of Governor Whitmer

UPDATE:

Though the original plan was to finish closing arguments early this afternoon before handing the case to the jury for deliberation, that did not happen.

Closing arguments finished late Friday afternoon, and the jury is heading home for the weekend. Deliberation will instead be picked up on Monday morning.

How long it will take to gain a verdict will depend on how much of the evidence the jury wants to see again.

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Closing arguments in the federal trial in the kidnapping plot of Governor Gretchen Whitmer have begun.

Four men are charged in creating a plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer in the summer of 2020.

Brandon Caserta, Adam Fox, Barry Croft and Daniel Harris have been the center of the four week long trial.

On Friday morning, the day began with jury instruction from Judge Robert Jonker before the government took their turn at closing arguments.

In the 40 minute presentation, Prosecutor Nils Kessler laid out the evidence presented throughout the trial.

First up for defense: Chris Gibbons, the attorney for Adam Fox.

He focused on Fox’s financial situation and loner lifestyle as an easy target for the FBI to influence and manipulate, saying it was Dan Chappel, the FBI informant who created and pushed the plot.

The hope is to have closing arguments finished Friday and handing it over to the jury before the weekend.

WHITMER KIDNAPPING PLOT TIAL | @9and10News

We have hit our first early break for the day.

So far Judge Robert Jonker gave out the jury instruction for each of the counts the defendants are facing. Also explained entrapment and how it can be used in this case.

— Eric Lloyd (@EricLloyd) April 1, 2022