LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reacted Friday on Twitter to comments Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf made to Fox 17 about the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer.
Nessel denounced Leaf’s comments questioning whether it was a kidnapping attempt or “just an arrest.” Leaf continued on to say that a lot of people are angry with Whitmer and want her arrested.
As Michigan’s top law enforcement official, let me make this abundantly clear-Persons who are not sworn, licensed members of a law enforcement agency cannot and should not “arrest” government offficials with whom they have disagreements. These comments are dangerous. https://t.co/UZTJKbjdfs
— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) October 9, 2020
“As Michigan’s top law enforcement official, let me make this abundantly clear – persons who are not sworn, licensed members of a law enforcement agency cannot and should not ‘arrest’ government officials with whom they have disagreements,” Nessel said in a tweet. “These comments are dangerous.”
Leaf was seen on stage with one of the men charged in connection to the plot at a rally in protest of Whitmer’s stay-at-home orders back in May.
Nessel’s tweet and Leaf’s comments to Fox 17 have generated much discussion, trending online.
Incredible example of a trend increasingly emerging into the open: law enforcement sympathy for right-wing armed groups. Michigan sheriff defends Whitmer plotters, saying they might have just been planning a citizens' felony arrest. "A lot of people are angry with the governor." https://t.co/v0CqIVh18w
— Evan Hill (@evanchill) October 9, 2020
Local sheriff defends the terrorists who plotted to kidnap Governor Whitmer on TV news!
— Melissa Ryan (@MelissaRyan) October 9, 2020
Yet another example of the relationship so many of these extremist groups enjoy with law enforcement. https://t.co/uFIatlKRWt
This sheriff literally defends a right-wing militia's right to kidnap the governor of Michigan. And you are surprised that people want to defund the police?? https://t.co/QGSh6swMqV
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) October 9, 2020
