Last Updated on February 17, 2022
One of the ringleaders in a plot to kidnap, try, and execute Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer (D), outed himself as an anarchist radical in a video he posted on Twitter.
Brandon Caserta, one of six radicals who were arrested Thursday by the FBI, with the help of local authorities, presents himself in front of an anarchist flag in a video he posted on Twitter prior to the events of October 8, 2020.
Caserta, along with five others – Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, and Daniel Harris of Michigan, and Barry Croft of Delaware – conspired to storm Michigan’s Capitol building and taking hostages, kidnapping Whitmer in the process. The indictment revealed that the group intended to transport Whitmer to a “secure location” in Wisconsin where she would stand trial, be convicted, and then executed, all before the November 2020 election.
This is a video of Brandon Caserta, one of the ringleaders of the group of men arrested for a plot where the group planned to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Caserta has an anarchist flag behind him and in YouTube videos trashes police. He’s not a Republican, he’s an anarchist. pic.twitter.com/J1vE2qGYL7
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) October 8, 2020
Liberals, Progressives, Democrats, and even Whitmer herself, were quick to try and connect the plot to the radical Right and President Trump.
In a statement, Whitmer pivoted from the facts of the case to a political narrative saying, “Just last week, the President of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups like these two Michigan militia groups. ‘Stand back and stand by,’ he told them. Stand back and stand by. Hate groups heard the president’s words, not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry, as a call to action.”
“When our leaders speak, their words matter,” Whitmer continued. “They carry weight. When our leaders meet with, encourage, or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions and they are complicit. When they stoke and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit.”
President Trump was quick to fire back, tweeting, “My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist.”
…today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist—while Biden and Democrats refuse to condemn Antifa, Anarchists, Looters and Mobs that burn down Democrat run cities…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2020
But Caserta was no fan of the President’s and said as much in another Twitter video where he said, “Every single person who works for the government is your enemy, dude. Trump is not your friend, dude.”
Wow! This is big. Brandon Caserta, one of the ringleaders of the group of men arrested for a plot where the group planned to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, hated President Trump too!
"Trump is not your friend dude"
He says Trump is "a tyrant" & calls President Trump an "enemy". pic.twitter.com/T5paEeTkiJ
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) October 8, 2020
President Trump has faced repeated false accusation that he has not condemned White supremist groups. An accurate examination of the public record shows that he has done so repeatedly over the course of his presidency.
