Daniel Harris at firearms training.
Federal jurors will hear closing arguments Friday in the trial of four men accused of conspiring to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Federal prosecutors, who wrapped up their case Wednesday, on Thursday cross-examined the lone defendant choosing to testify -- Daniel Harris, 24, of Lake Orion. The government attorneys had no rebuttal witnesses, and each of the four defense attorneys rested their cases, according to two journalists' tweets.
"Sometime tomorrow, it will be in your hands," Jonker tells jurors.
— dustindwyer (@dustindwyer) March 31, 2022
The Michigan Radio reporter's tweets above refer to Judge Robert Jonker of federal court in Grand Rapids.
The 14-day trial began March 8 and had 34 witnesses. The defendants were arrested in October 2020 and face possible life sentences if convicted.
Original article, Thursday morning:
Daniel Harris of Lake Orion, the first defendant testifying in the Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot trial, acknowledged anti-government talk and firearms training with three other accused conspirators. But he repeatedly denied a role in any abduction scheme.
"Absolutely not," the ex-Marine replied Thursday morning each time his attorney asked if he planned to snatch the governor from her lakeside vacation home in fall 2020.
Daniel Harris of Lake Orion: "America was on fire." (Photo: Kent County Sheriff, via WOOD-TV)
Lawyer Julia Kelly of Grand Rapids began calling witnesses after federal prosecutors ended their presentations Wednesday, the trial's 13th day. Five defense witnesses bowed out Wednesday, saying they'd assert their right to remain silent, the Associated Press reports. Those uncharged men participated in training and discussions with the defendants.
During two hours of direct examination of her client, Kelly asked why Harris and comrades were practicing with wepons and explosives, according to tweets during Grand Rapids trial breaks by reporter Lisa Roose-Church of Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS), a Lansing subscription newsletter and syndicated news outlet. The 24-year-old defendant said the group's "QRF" (quick response force) was a reaction to protests around the country against police killings and brutality.
"America was on fire" after George Floyd's murder in May 2020, Harris replied, later mentioning concerns that when "shit hits the fan ... the world as we know it is no more ... no government and everyone is coming at us like 'Red Dawn.'"
The decorated veteran from Oakland County, who had no past criminal record, said he contacted the Wolverine Watchmen militia on Facebook and joined to maintain infantry skills. He never showed the group how to build explosive devices, the defendant testified, though jurors heard an undercover FBI tape in which he offered that training.
Harris said he skipped a meeting at co-defendant Adam Fox's apartment under a Grand Rapids-area Vac Shack appliance store because he recalled a childhood warning from his parents about not getting into cars or going into basements with strangers, Roose-Church recounts on Twitter.
The Lake Orion defendantn also called convicted conspirators Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks "liars." They testified earlier that the group did conspire to kidnap Whitmer.
In his last reply of direct examination, Harris said undercover informant Dan Chappel was the band's leader in his view -- not Fox and defendant Barry Croft, as the government says.
A Michigan Radio correspondent tweets about drama after Harris' lawyer finished:
"Next question," Harris tries to say.
— dustindwyer (@dustindwyer) March 31, 2022
No. Roth pushes.
"Sir, you told me he's a bitch. Tell me why he's a bitch."
Harris replied, according to reporter Dwyer, that Chappel was a combat veteran who went to the FBI because memes in the group's chat exchanges scared him.
During opening arguments three weeks ago, the government cited a private chat group message from Harris suggesting that killing Whitmer would be better than kidnapping her. "Just cap her. ... Just take a pistol and like three rounds" when she answers the vacation home door, he posted after suggesting a militia member "just mug the pizza guy and take his shirt."
Harris testifies he "100%" didn't want anyone to kill the governor. Says he only made the "cap her" suggestion to get the others in the group to shut up about kidnapping.
— dustindwyer (@dustindwyer) March 31, 2022
Daniel Harris at militia firearms training. (Photo: U.S. Attorney's Office)
Though Harris didn't join others on a northern Michigan road trip to look at Whitmer’s home on Birch Lake in Antrim County, evidence confirms he participated in firearms training at a "shoot house" mock-up of the governor's cottage.
Judge Robert Jonker told attorneys to be ready today for summations and a private discussion with him about jury instructions because "we are closing in," the MIRS reporter tweeted.
Earlier this week:
Whitmer kidnap case lawyer tries a 'just joking' defense; 'I didn't laugh,' FBI agent says, March 29
