(Headline USA) A judge overseeing the second trial of two men accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took steps Friday to keep a lid on a defense lawyer’s concerns about whether a juror will be fair.
The first trial resulted in the FBI’s dubious case, which many claim was a false flag operation wholly driven by federal agents, falling apart and jurors returning non-guilty verdicts for two of the defendants. The trial began Tuesday after a different jury in April couldn’t reach an unanimous verdict.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker said any subsequent court filings about the issue will be sealed from the public and attorneys can’t talk publicly about it.
Adam Fox, who lived in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area, and Barry Croft Jr., who is from Bear, Delaware, are charged with planning to abduct the Democrat governor to ignite a national revolt in 2020.
Croft’s attorney, Joshua Blanchard, claimed a juror had hoped to be selected for the trial and would ensure a certain verdict, according to a court document obtained by The Detroit News before it was sealed Friday in the online file.
Blanchard said in the filing that his source had “apparent credible identifying information regarding the juror which lent credibility to the assertions.” He requested a hearing to investigate the matter.
In his order, the judge acknowledged the issue and disclosed that he twice met privately with lawyers. He said Blanchard’s filing doesn’t “accurately and completely” include available information.
“For now, the court expects to continue addressing the situation in non-public hearings and filings while the case is pending to limit the risk of mistrial,” Jonker said.
Testimony resumed Friday in Grand Rapids with no changes in the jury box.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
