VOA慢速英语2020--13人因密谋绑架密歇根州州长被指控

13 Charged in Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor

Police in the United States have arrested 13 people in connection with reported plots to kidnap the governor of Michigan and attack the state's Capitol building.

A federal court charged six men with plotting to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer from her home. The Federal Bureau of Investigation¹ says the group sought to carry out the crime before the U.S. presidential election November 3. It says the suspects wanted to act against what they saw as Whitmer's "uncontrolled power."

Separately, seven other people were charged in state court under Michigan's anti-terrorism laws. They are accused of planning to attack police and seeking a "civil war."

The FBI said four of the men charged had planned Wednesday to meet to "make a payment on explosives and exchange," equipment for kidnapping Whitmer.

Whitmer, a Democrat², was once considered a possible running mate to presidential candidate Joe Biden. She has been both praised and criticized for her actions to deal with the coronavirus health crisis in Michigan.

The state's Republican Party lawmakers and other conservatives criticized restrictions³ Whitmer ordered to stop the spread of the coronavirus. They said the actions hurt Michigan's people and economy.

President Donald Trump⁴ has also criticized Whitmer. Last April, he called on her to reopen the state, posting the statement "LIBERATE⁵ MICHIGAN" on social media.

On Thursday after the charges were announced, Whitmer accused Trump of encouraging extremist groups. She noted⁶ Trump's refusal to condemn⁷ extremist groups during last week's presidential debate, instead telling one such group to "stand back and stand by."

"Hate groups heard the president's words not as a rebuke⁸ but as a rallying cry, as a call to action," Whitmer said. "When our leaders speak, their words matter. They carry weight."

Internal U.S. security reports have warned recently about possible plans of violent American extremists in connection to the upcoming elections.

FBI director Christopher Wray discussed the subject at congressional hearings in September. He said the agency was investigating violent American extremists, including white supremacist and anti-fascist groups. Wray said the largest part of such investigations⁹ concerned white supremacists.

Andrew Birge is the U.S. attorney for the western district of Michigan. He said the FBI learned through social media that a group of people were discussing the "violent overthrow¹⁰" of Michigan's government. That led to a months-long investigation and the arrests.

The six men facing federal charges are Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta. They could be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty.

"The group talked about creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient," the FBI said in a court document. "They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavors to violent actions... Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants' or ‘taking' a sitting governor."

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the state's charges against seven men who are members of a militia¹¹ group called Wolverine Watchmen. She said the group was looking to identify "the home addresses of law enforcement officers in order to target them." Nessel said the accused planned to start a civil war.

Matthew Schneider is a U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Michigan. He said the arrests should send a message that violence will not be accepted.

"All of us in Michigan can disagree about politics but those disagreements should never, ever amount to violence," Schneider said.

Words in This Story

rebuke - n. disapproval¹² of someone because of their action or behavior

internal - adj. coming from inside

achieve - v. to reach a goal

endeavor - n. a serious effort or attempt

address - n. the words or numbers that are used to describe a location of a building

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 liberate   

v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由

参考例句：

• They did their best to liberate slaves.他们尽最大能力去解放奴隶。
• This will liberate him from economic worry.这将消除他经济上的忧虑。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

8 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。

9 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

10 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

11 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

12 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。