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Judge lowers bond for man linked to plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

By Camille Amiri and FOX 2 Staff
Updated  October 23, 2020 5:23pm EDT
Whitmer Kidnapping Plot
FOX 2 Detroit

(FOX 2) - A judge has slashed bond to $100,000 for a man accused of assisting in a scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and commit other violence against state government. 

A defense attorney says Pete Musico's alleged role was overstated by prosecutors. 

2 ‘Wolverine Watchmen’ defendants in court Friday for plot to kidnap Whitmer

Two members of the so-called Wolverine Watchmen group were in court Friday for the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Kareem Johnson says Musico was kicked out of the group because he was too "soft" and wouldn't commit to violence. 

Judge Michael Klaeren reduced Musico's bond, clearing the way for his release from jail. His bond had originally been set at $10 million.

"He got kicked out because he was too damn soft. They kicked him out of the group because he was too soft and would not commit to violence in June, early July," the attorney said during the hearing.

Musico's attorney says his client is a dedicated family man and an active member of his church who moved to Michigan from Alabama in 2010 but the attorney general's office paints a very different picture.

Court documents state Musico and Joseph Morrison, who was also in court Friday, were founding members of the Wolverine Watchmen, an anti-government militia group. They allegedly hosted several tactical training sessions to prepare for an uprising against the government.

One thing everyone seems to agree on, though, is that there was a splintering off of the original group of 14 men who allegedly plotted to kidnap the governor.

"The defendant Musico came up with his own plan, was unhappy at certain times with Adam Fox's plan which was called Plan A," the judge said Friday.

Concerned about an assault on the capitol saying it could be too dangerous, the Michigan Attorney General's office says Musico came up with his own plan.

"His plan was to find the addresses of the various politicians and kidnap them. He was also involved in discussions earlier with assault on the Capitol and the kidnapping of the governor of the state of Michigan," the judge said.

After listening to both attorneys the judge decided to reduce Musico's bond from $10 million dollars to $100,000. The defendant put his head in his hands when we heard the news.