2 more convictions thrown out in 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan governor
The panel said kidnapping cannot support terrorism convictions, and Attorney General Dana Nessel plans to appeal.
- On Monday, the Michigan Court of Appeals vacated the convictions of Pete Musico and Paul Bellar, who were found guilty of providing material support for an act of terrorism in the 2020 plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
- The three-judge panel—Judges Michael Kelly, Sima Patel and Daniel Korobkin—ruled that kidnapping does not qualify as a violent felony under Michigan law, applying a precedent set in June when Joseph Morrison's conviction was similarly overturned.
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called the ruling "linguistic gymnastics" and vowed to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, asserting the defendants engaged in a coordinated plan to harm the governor and cause destruction.
27 Articles
27 Articles
The Detroit News
union-bulletin.comAppeals court tosses 2 more convictions in Whitmer kidnap plot
2 additional convictions overturned for those involved in Whitmer kidnapping plot; AG will appeal
Getty ImagesA month after the Michigan Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the conviction of Joseph Morrison, who was convicted in 2022 of materially supporting the kidnapping plot against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, two of his co-defendants, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar, have similarly had their convictions overturned by the Court of Appeals — on the basis of Morrison’s case. In a decision released Monday, Court of Appeals judges Michael Kelly, S…
Two additional convictions overturned for those involved in Whitmer kidnapping plot, AG will appeal
A month after the Michigan Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the conviction of Joseph Morrison, who was convicted in 2022 of materially supporting the kidnapping plot against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, two of his co-defendants, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar, have…
Michigan appeals court reverses two more convictions tied to Whitmer kidnapping plot
Pete Musico and Paul Bellar were previously convicted of providing material support for an act of terrorism in the plot, alongside Joseph Morrison, whose conviction was overturned by a different appeals panel last month.
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