GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The federal convictions of Barry Croft and Adam Fox, the two leading figures behind the 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, could soon face renewed scrutiny under the Biden administration.
Croft and Fox were convicted in 2022 on conspiracy charges related to the alleged plan to abduct Whitmer at her vacation home. Croft received a sentence of nearly 20 years in prison, while Fox was sentenced to 16 years. The convictions were upheld by a federal appeals court panel in March, which described their actions as a textbook example of criminal conspiracy.
However, Ed Martin Jr., the newly appointed pardon attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, announced during an interview on the Breanna Morello Show this week that he intends to review cases involving the two men. Martin emphasized a commitment to not “leave these guys behind,” likening their situation to individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.
“In my opinion, these are victims just like January 6th,” Martin stated, signaling a potential shift in how the Justice Department may handle politically charged convictions tied to that period.
Former President Donald Trump previously issued pardons to more than 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6 events, a move that stirred significant controversy and debate over the boundaries of presidential clemency.
The development has reignited discussions over the politicization of justice and the role of pardons in high-profile cases linked to political violence. No formal pardon decisions have been announced yet, and legal experts suggest any potential clemency could provoke sharp public and political reactions.
