Wisconsin Man Accused In Plot Against Michigan Governor: AG

MICHIGAN — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has accused a Wisconsin man of participating in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Brian Higgins, 51, of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, is charged with material support of an act of terrorism, a 20-year felony, Nessel said Thursday.

Higgins provided assistance in the plan to kidnap Whitmer from her vacation home, according to the AG's office. In an affidavit, authorities said Higgins gave other members of the Wolverine Watchmen night-vision goggles for nighttime surveillance of the governor's private vacation home. Authorities said he used a mounted digital dash camera to record the governor's home as well.

“While the political rhetoric in our nation may at times be divisive, I am encouraged by the united front our law enforcement community has displayed in response to this indescribable act of terror,” Nessel said. “These were very credible, and very serious threats to our elected officials and the public in general, and the swift actions taken by state and federal authorities this past week are nothing short of heroic.”

Higgins was arrested Thursday in Wisconsin and will be extradited to Michigan to be arraigned in Antrim County 86th District Court, officials said. Court dates have not been scheduled.

All but one of the six people accused last week by Nessel's office have been arraigned and are in custody in Michigan jails. Paul Bellar is facing extradition from South Carolina, where he was arrested, Nessel said. He is scheduled to be picked up from South Carolina by Oct. 27, according to Nessel.

Higgins is the eighth person accused in a case being overseen by Nessel's office. Six others face federal charges in an investigation run by the FBI and U.S. attorneys.

Read More: Michigan Militia Members Accused In Plot To Kidnap, Kill Whitmer

The investigation involved people from across Michigan, including Belleville, Cadillac, Canton, Charlotte, Clarkston, Grand Rapids, Luther, Munith, Orion Township, Ovid, Portage, Shelby Township and Waterford, Nessel said previously.

Federal authorities became aware of the conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer in early 2020 through social media, according to the records.

A group of people calling themselves the "Wolverines Watchmen" met over the course of months in remote areas of Michigan where they trained with guns and performed "tactical drills," according to the documents.

In federal documents, officials detailed how one of those accused said he needed "200 men" to storm the Capitol building, take hostages including Whitmer, and try the governor for treason.

Three of those accused in the felony case appeared in court for the first time Tuesday where it was ruled they would remain in custody without bond.

Through testimony provided during the hearing, it was revealed that those accused also discussed "taking out" Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, according to testimony provided by an FBI agent Tuesday.

Richard Trask, a special agent with the FBI, said Northam, a Democrat, had also been discussed by a group of men accused of plotting to kidnap and potentially murder Whitmer, the Associated Press reported.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Information and reporting from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read More:

• Here's What We Know About The Men Accused In Plot Against Whitmer
• Whitmer Cites Trump While Addressing Militia Kidnapping Plot
  
• 3 Men Accused In Whitmer Plot To Be Held Without Bond