Michigan man convicted in plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, sentenced to 16 years in prison

A Michigan man has been convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. He was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison on Tuesday.

Adam Fox was reportedly the leader of a plot to kidnap the Democratic governor in 2020. Three other men involved in the plot were sentenced earlier this month. The three men are each facing 11-12 years in prison.

Fox was previously convicted by a jury in August on charges of kidnapping conspiracy and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.

“There is need for public understanding of the cost of this kind of wrongdoing and certainly for specific deterrence as well. And there is impact on our overall governmental system, not just physical threat to our sitting governor, it’s the emotional baggage that now our governor will have to carry and that she’s written about in her report,” Judge Robert Jonker said before handing down the sentence.

“And beyond that, it does affect not just the willingness and eagerness of our own governor to continue in office but undoubtedly affects other people who are either in public office or are considering public office,” Jonker said.

Jonker rejected prosecutors’ request to sentence Fox to life in prison, saying that such a sentence is not necessary to serve as a deterrent to potential violence against public officials.

Meanwhile, Fox’s defense argued that the charges brought against him have been “overstate[d],” and sought a sentence of four to six years.