Photo: Bethann Long ~ WJR
MACKINAC ISLAND, Michigan, May 29, 2025 ~ At the Mackinac Policy Conference this week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer responded forcefully to news that President Donald Trump is considering pardons for the men convicted in the 2020 plot to kidnap her. Speaking live on 760 WJR’s “‘JR Morning,” Whitmer said the idea “sends a terrible message” and warned of the broader implications for political violence in the U.S.
“I’m still processing it, to be honest,” Whitmer said. “We can’t do anything other than condemn political violence. And words matter. Your actions matter. We can never permit that. That’s just unacceptable in America today.”
PODCAST:
May 29, 2025 ~ Governor Gretchen Whitmer joins “‘JR Morning” live from the Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss the potential pardons of the men convicted in the 2020 kidnapping plot against her, calling the idea “a terrible message.” She also weighs in on her political future, Michigan’s economic wins, and the state’s urgent need to improve literacy. It’s a wide-ranging, candid conversation with the woman from Michigan.
(CONTINUED) Trump, speaking to reporters Wednesday, said he would “take a look” at pardoning the men, calling the case a “railroad job” and suggesting the defendants were victims of government overreach.
The plot, which involved plans to abduct Whitmer from her vacation home and potentially blow up a nearby bridge, was foiled by federal authorities. Two men, Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, were convicted and sentenced to 19 and 16 years in prison, respectively.
The 2020 kidnapping plot emerged during a time of intense backlash against Whitmer’s COVID-19 restrictions. Prosecutors described the conspirators as antigovernmental extremists, while defense attorneys argued entrapment by undercover FBI agents. Trump’s recent comments have reignited debate over the case and the limits of the presidential pardon power, especially since some convictions were at the state level and thus beyond federal reach.
Whitmer, who has been floated as a potential 2028 presidential contender, emphasized that her focus remains on governing Michigan. “I’m going to put the people of Michigan first,” she said. “Whether it’s taking heat and threats for trying to protect people in a pandemic, or working with someone I worked very hard to make sure wasn’t elected, I’ll do what’s right for this state.”
760 WJR TOP STORIES:
