Wisconsin Man Accused In Whitmer Plot Released On Bond

MICHIGAN — A Wisconsin man accused in a plot against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been released on bond, according to reports.

Brian Higgins, 51, of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, had an extradition hearing Monday in a Columbia County, Wisconsin, courtroom, The Detroit News reported. Judge Todd Hepler set bail at $10,000 — the lowest among the 14 people accused in the plot.

Stipulation of bail require Higgins to limit his travel to local counties in Wisconsin, surrender his passport and not have contact with the other people accused in the plot.

Higgins is scheduled for a Nov. 18 status conference.

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Higgins is charged with material support of an act of terrorism, a 20-year felony, Michigan Attorney General Dana 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.

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.

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