Republican Congressman Dan Bishop had a whole bunch of questions for the FBI/DOJ concerning the “alleged plot” to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) in 2020 and how the agencies handled it.
Bishop posted a lengthy Twitter thread where he raised multiple concerns over the FBI and DOJ’s actions connected to the case.
“Just before the 2020 election, the FBI announced it had thwarted an alleged plot to kidnap the Michigan governor. A jury found that the FBI had actually entrapped at least 2 of the defendants. Is this how the DOJ carries out its operations? The American people deserve to know,” the North Carolina representative tweeted.
“At the start of the trial, Buzzfeed News reported that the government was using ‘bare-knuckle tactics’ & ‘leaving nothing to chance’ in its case,” Bishop pointed out.
Just before the 2020 election, the FBI announced it had thwarted an alleged plot to kidnap the Michigan governor.
A jury found that the FBI had actually entrapped at least 2 of the defendants.
Is this how the DOJ carries out its operations? The American people deserve to know. pic.twitter.com/ZcjGtwKWtC
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) July 28, 2022
Bishop went on to point out the deep involvement of the FBI/DOJ in the sting operation and he wanted to know who approved it.
“The case relied on work by at least 12 informants and 2 undercover agents, which raised the question: Would this group have planned anything without the prodding and encouragement of the FBI? A Michigan jury didn’t think so,” he continued.
“Every step of the way, the Whitmer plot was directed and encouraged by government agents. It required approval at the highest levels of the DOJ. What we still don’t know – Who approved this op? Who oversaw it?” the congressman added.
Every step of the way, the Whitmer plot was directed and encouraged by government agents. It required approval at the highest levels of the DOJ.
What we still don't know – Who approved this op? Who oversaw it?
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) July 28, 2022
“FBI informants had leading roles in the group and the alleged plot. ‘[O]bservers from across the political spectrum have argued the FBI’s efforts… went beyond legitimate law enforcement and into outright entrapment,'” Bishop contended.
“The NYT acknowledged that the role of the FBI ‘muddled’ the case, & reported that a bumbling nighttime surveillance trip, a large focus of the trial, had 4/12 men involved working for the FBI,” he stated on Twitter.
Bishop used a chart during his questioning that spelled out the doubts he has about the federal agencies handling the kidnapping case.
“An incomplete list of what the FBI used for this op: -$54k payday for informant -$20k payday for 2nd informant -New electronics & tires for informant -Travel, food, alcohol expenses -12+ informants, 2 undercover agents -A how-to bombmaking video -Gov’t drones & planes,” Bishop counted off.
“In June 2020, the group stitched together by lead informant ‘Big Dan’ was listless. They had no direction & seemed to be falling apart. The FBI pushed him to keep them together. After rallying the group, handler Jayson Chambers texted him: ‘Look at you, bringing people together,'” he reported.
In June 2020, the group stitched together by lead informant “Big Dan” was listless. They had no direction & seemed to be falling apart.
The FBI pushed him to keep them together. After rallying the group, handler Jayson Chambers texted him: “Look at you, bringing people together” pic.twitter.com/vJBGMvPhVt
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) July 28, 2022
“That summer, Agent Chambers coached the same informant in a parallel scheme against VA Gov. Ralph Northam. When Dan asked Chambers for advice on how to frame the plot when communicating with a recruit, he replied: ‘Mission is to kill the Governor specifically,'” Bishop charged.
That summer, Agent Chambers coached the same informant in a parallel scheme against VA Gov. Ralph Northam.
When Dan asked Chambers for advice on how to frame the plot when communicating with a recruit, he replied: “Mission is to kill the Governor specifically” pic.twitter.com/BVlGSXsJK4
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) July 28, 2022
“The Northam plot has received even less attention than the Michigan fiasco. Just how far did the DOJ go here? We deserve answers,” he demanded.
And then there was the question on domestic terrorism which he could not get an answer on.
“Today I asked Matthew Olsen, Asst AG for the DOJ’s National Security Division– is this case representative of the DOJ’s domestic terrorism efforts? He refused to answer,” Bishop said.
“Why did the DOJ announce the case so close to the 2020 election? How much did it cost? Who authorized and oversaw this op? The American people deserve answers,” he concluded.
Why did the DOJ announce the case so close to the 2020 election?
How much did it cost?
Who authorized and oversaw this op?
The American people deserve answers.
Watch my full questioning here: https://t.co/6ZZxFvlLfi
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) July 28, 2022
In April, a jury acquitted two defendants of conspiracy in the case and could not come to a consensus on a verdict for two others.
“A jury on Friday acquitted two men of all charges in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but couldn’t reach verdicts against the two alleged leaders, a stunning defeat for the government after a weekslong trial that centered on a remarkable FBI sting operation just before the 2020 election,” according to the Associated Press.
“The result was announced on the fifth day of deliberations, a few hours after the jury said it had been struggling to find unanimity on charges in the 10-count indictment. The judge told the panel to keep working, but jurors emerged again after lunch to say they still were deadlocked on some counts,” the outlet reported.
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