Armed groups and their links with the forces of order 4:58
(CNN) -
The group accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also proposed kidnapping Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, according to an FBI agent who testified in court Tuesday.
FBI Agent Richard Trask testified during a preliminary hearing that the group discussed the possibility of removing the incumbent governors because of their "coronavirus-related lockdown orders."
"They discussed possible targets, taking an acting governor, specifically the governors of Michigan and Virginia, on the shutdown orders," Trask said.
"The understanding at the time was potentially to kidnap a sitting governor and remove him from office," he added.
The FBI obtained this information during a June 6 meeting in Dublin, Ohio.
One person who attended the meeting approached authorities "due to concerns (about) some of the directions the group was taking and possible violence."
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The court hearing came days after 13 people were charged with an alleged terrorist plot to kidnap Whitmer.
The alleged plan included plans to overthrow several state governments that the suspects "believe violate the US Constitution," according to a federal criminal complaint.
FBI stops plot to kidnap Michigan governor 4:50
Six people were federally charged with conspiracy to kidnap, and seven other people, associated with the extremist group "Wolverine Watchmen," were indicted by the state, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
Whitmer and Northam, both Democrats, were among the governors who issued coronavirus-related decrees in the spring that closed hangouts like gyms, bars and restaurants.
Northam declined to comment Tuesday afternoon, citing the ongoing criminal investigation, but thanked security and police for their work.
His office released a statement saying the FBI alerted key members of the governor's security team throughout the investigation.
“According to security protocols for highly classified information, neither the governor nor other members of his staff were informed.
At no time was the governor or his family in imminent danger.
Enhanced security measures have been in place for Governor Northam and his family for quite some time, and they will remain, ”said press secretary Alena Yarmosky.
Yarmosky also linked the incident to what he said was President Donald Trump's encouragement of violence, particularly in the April 17 tweets for "FREE MICHIGAN" and "FREE VIRGINIA."
Trump's tweet in Virginia came after Northam signed a series of gun control measures that require background checks and established a "red flag" law.
Here is the reality: President Trump asked his supporters to 'FREE VIRGINIA' in April, as did Michigan.
In fact, the president regularly encourages violence against those who disagree with him.
The rhetoric coming out of this White House has serious impact and deadly consequences.
It must end, ”Yarmosky said.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trump in a statement to CNN affiliate WTVR.
“President Trump has continually condemned white supremacists and all forms of hatred.
Governor Whitmer, and now Governor Northam, sow division by making these outrageous accusations, "he said.
"The country is united against hatred and in support of the federal forces of order that stopped this plot."
Judge orders suspects detained awaiting trial
In federal court on Tuesday, United States Trial Judge Sally Berens ordered that three of the men, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta, be detained pending trial.
Caserta's attorney Michael Hills said his client has strong family ties, a job for more than a year and a half and is a lifelong Michigan citizen.
"My client was not part of any specific planning, or part of the group," Hills said.
"He did not contribute money, he was not a leader."
A lawyer for Franks said he was not a mastermind of the group.
MORE: Michigan Governor Criticizes Trump Campaign For Targeting Her After Alleged Kidnapping Plot Against Her Was Revealed
"It seems there is no question that Mr. Franks is a follower and not a leader of this," said attorney Scott Graham.
Harris's attorney, Thomas Douglas, emphasized in court before the decision that Harris had no prior record, that he lives with his parents and is not at risk of flight.
Adam Fox and Ty Garbin, two other men indicted by the federal government, will file bail arguments at a later date, and a sixth defendant, Barry Croft, is currently in Delaware.
His attorneys have not responded to requests for comment from CNN.
How the plot came about
Trask's testimony on Tuesday provided more details about the alleged plot that was first hatched on a social media group and later unfolded in the basement of a vacuum cleaner repair shop.
In meetings in Dublin, Ohio, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and in a rural courtyard in Munith, Michigan, the group allegedly conspired to take violent action against the state, conducted tactical training and tried unsuccessfully to make bombs, according to court documents.
Fox allegedly wanted to carry out the kidnapping plot on Election Day and discussed bombing police vehicles to prevent police from responding, Trask said Tuesday.
The FBI learned of the scheme, first reported by The Detroit News, in early 2020 through a social media group, according to the federal criminal complaint.
Court documents say the FBI placed a confidential informant to travel to Dublin, Ohio, on June 6 for a meeting with Croft, Fox and 13 other people.
"They discussed different ways to achieve this goal, from peaceful efforts to violent actions ... Several members spoke about assassinating 'tyrants' or 'taking' an acting governor," according to the complaint.
On June 14, a second confidential informant confirmed that Fox met the group's leader and they met in Grand Rapids.
The informant audiotaped conversations with Fox in which he allegedly said he needed "200 men" to storm the Capitol building in Lansing and take hostages, including Whitmer, according to the criminal complaint.
MORE: Details of Alleged Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor Revealed
Fox allegedly explained that they would try the Michigan governor for "treason" and said they would execute the plan before the November 2020 election.
On June 20, Fox, Garbin and others gathered at Fox's Grand Rapids business, where attendees gathered in the basement accessed through a trapdoor hidden under a carpet on the main floor, according to the criminal complaint. .
“Attendees discussed plans to storm the Michigan State Capitol, counter law enforcement first responders and use 'Molotov cocktails' to destroy police vehicles.
The attendees also discussed plans for an additional meeting during the first weekend of July when they would also bring firearms and tactical training, ”according to the criminal complaint.
The conspirators conducted the surveillance of Whitmer's vacation home twice in late August and September, according to the complaint.
Croft and Fox discussed detonating explosive devices to divert police from the vacation home area, according to the FBI.
The group also met on a rural property in Munith for what officials called tactical training.
Trask said Tuesday that this included firearms training, medical training and an attempt to detonate an improvised explosive device.
CNN's Christina Carrega, Veronica Stracqualursi, Josh Campbell, Julia Jones, Leslie Holland, and Ryan Nobles contributed to this report.