- Trump considers pardoning Whitmer kidnap plot suspects, questioning the fairness of their trial and calling it a possible “railroad job.”
- DOJ pardon attorney Ed Martin supports reviewing the case and compares it to January 6 prosecutions.
- Conservatives claim FBI entrapment, while Governor Whitmer has not yet responded to Trump’s comments.
President Donald Trump said he might pardon two men who planned to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Trump made the remarks on Wednesday during a press event in Washington, D.C. The event was for the swearing-in of Jeanine Pirro as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Pirro is a former Fox News host and a loyal Trump supporter. Trump used the event to share his thoughts on Barry Croft and Adam Fox, the two men convicted in the 2020 kidnap plot. He said the case seemed unfair and promised to take a closer look.
Trump believes the trial may not have been fair
Trump spoke clearly about his doubts. He said he watched the trial and didn’t like what he saw. “It looked like somewhat of a railroad job,” he said. Trump also added, “Some people said stupid things. They were drinking. I’ll take a look at that.” Both Croft and Fox are serving nearly 20-year sentences in a federal prison in Colorado. Trump’s words gave hope to people who believe the justice system targeted the two men. He did not promise a pardon, but his statement showed real interest.
DOJ pardon lawyer Ed Martin supports a review
Ed Martin Jr., a top pardon lawyer at the Department of Justice, said he would review Croft and Fox’s cases. Martin almost became the U.S. Attorney for D.C. before Trump picked Pirro instead. Still, Martin kept his influence inside the Trump team. Over the weekend, Martin said he would consider adding the names of Croft and Fox to the list of potential pardons. He thinks their case looks similar to how the government treated the January 6 Capitol rioters. President pardoned over 1,500 people connected to the Capitol attack on his first day back in office. Martin’s support could help Croft and Fox even more.
Conservatives claim FBI tried to trap the men
Many conservatives say the FBI set up the whole kidnapping plot. They believe federal agents pushed the plan to trap Trump supporters. Court records showed Croft and Fox created the plan and brought others in. One of the men they recruited turned out to be an FBI informant. Still, some right-wing voices call the case a setup. They believe the government wanted to create a false threat. Ed Martin also seems to believe this. He said on a podcast that the justice system has been weaponized. This matches Trump’s long-running message that the federal government targets his allies unfairly.
Trump’s comment puts the case back in the spotlight
Martin’s podcast and Trump’s words brought the Whitmer kidnap case back into the news. Trump said he would “take a look,” and many of his followers see that as a good sign. The comments may lead to full reviews of the case. Supporters of Croft and Fox now hope for a pardon. Critics worry that Trump might excuse dangerous actions. They say the men clearly broke the law. But Trump and his team seem focused on the idea of unfair treatment. They often talk about restoring justice for those they see as victims of the system.
Governor Whitmer has not responded yet
Reporters contacted Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office for a response. Her team did not reply before this article was published. Whitmer faced threats before, and this plot forced her to increase security. She later blamed Trump’s harsh words during the pandemic for encouraging hate. Now, with Trump showing interest in the case again, Whitmer may choose to speak out soon. For now, she remains silent. But many wonder how she will respond if Trump follows through with a pardon.
