Details from a recently unsealed affidavit reveal that the FBI disrupted a group intending to carry out “violent acts against several state governments,” including a specific scheme to either capture or cause harm to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Those involved in this scheme connected through Facebook groups, gatherings in person, and at least two encrypted messaging applications, which the FBI has not publicly identified.

Governor Whitmer, a Democrat, became a prominent focus of strong opposition to lockdown measures from those on the political right earlier this year as states implemented restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The affidavit indicates that, during a meeting in June, members of the group discussed the possibility of murdering “tyrants” or “taking” a current governor. A total of thirteen individuals have been charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping plot.

The group expanded its membership base by making contact with a Michigan-based militia organization called the Wolverine Watchmen, which shared similar objectives. Although not initially identified, Facebook removed the Wolverine Watchmen group from its platform in June as part of a broader effort to eliminate groups linked to the anti-government boogaloo movement. The Wolverine Watchmen had been actively recruiting members on Facebook for a period of seven months, beginning in November of the previous year and concluding in June.

“We are today designating a violent, U.S.-based anti-government network as a dangerous organization and removing it from our platform,” Facebook stated at the time, clarifying a distinction between violent boogaloo groups and the broader, “loosely-affiliated” boogaloo movement.

Facebook asserts that it took a “proactive” stance in assisting the FBI investigation, initially contacting law enforcement authorities six months prior. The FBI stated that it first learned of the activity through social media platforms and also utilized information provided by a confidential informant within the group.

“We remove content, deactivate accounts, and immediately notify law enforcement whenever a credible threat of immediate harm to individuals or public safety is identified,” a Facebook representative communicated to TechCrunch. “We proactively contacted and cooperated with the FBI early in this ongoing investigation.”

TechCrunch inquired with Facebook regarding whether the individuals linked to the Michigan militia had connected through Facebook groups, but the company did not respond to this specific question. In August, Facebook identified and banned several other Michigan-based militarized groups from both Facebook and Instagram, including the Michigan Liberty Militia and the Michigan Militia Corps, along with another group utilizing the “Wolverine” designation.

Adam Fox, identified as one of the alleged organizers of the group, broadcast a live video to a private Facebook group earlier this year, expressing dissatisfaction that Michigan’s restrictions were keeping fitness centers closed. In the video, Fox referred to Governor Whitmer with a derogatory term and stated, “I don’t know, boys, we gotta do something.”

In April, President Trump voiced support for protests against these measures in Virginia, Minnesota, and Michigan, all states led by Democratic governors. Many of these initial events were coordinated on Facebook, but opposition to Governor Whitmer rapidly became widespread on the right across various social networks and traditional news outlets.

By July, the group contemplated attacking a Michigan State Police facility but ultimately decided to focus on abducting Governor Whitmer from either her private vacation residence or the governor’s summer home. On the same day this decision was reached, Fox posted on a private Facebook page, “We about to be busy ladies and gentlemen . . . This is where the Patriot shows up. Sacrifices his time, money, blood sweat and tears . . . it starts now so get fucking prepared!!”

The group’s plans fluctuated between kidnapping Governor Whitmer for a private “trial” and killing her immediately. In the following months, they conducted surveillance of Governor Whitmer’s vacation home, gathered necessary supplies, and developed detailed logistical plans for the kidnapping, including a proposal to detonate a nearby bridge to divert law enforcement resources. These detailed plans were discussed within an encrypted chat application.

According to the affidavit, “On multiple occasions, FOX has communicated his intention and desire to kidnap Governor Whitmer prior to November 3, 2020, the date of the national election.”

The affidavit also outlines some of the training exercises conducted by members of the plot with militias in Wisconsin and Michigan, where they practiced constructing IEDs “using black powder, balloons, a fuse, and BBs for shrapnel,” and participated in firearm and combat training drills. They shared images and videos documenting their techniques through “Facebook discussions,” as stated in the affidavit.

A Change in Approach at Facebook

In recent months, Facebook has significantly altered its stance regarding certain types of extremist activities. Despite the long-standing presence of politically motivated armed groups on the platform, the company initiated a crackdown on what it designates as “militarized social movements” in August. This week, Facebook further announced a wider prohibition of the pro-Trump conspiracy theory known as QAnon, alongside a new policy addressing voter intimidation tactics that employ militaristic terminology.

When questioned about whether the recent terror plot influenced the company’s series of unexpected policy adjustments, Facebook did not offer a direct answer. It remains uncertain whether the domestic terror plot utilized Facebook groups for recruitment and online connection, or solely for communication among individuals already acquainted offline.

Experts who analyze extremism have consistently voiced concerns that Facebook’s algorithmic recommendations have the potential to guide users toward hazardous ideologies—and potentially dangerous actions.

Over the past few years, militias and other domestic extremist organizations have increasingly relied on Facebook for recruitment purposes. After initial connections and vetting, frequently occurring within public groups, individuals are often granted access to a more exclusive circle, sometimes established as a private Facebook group. The Proud Boys, a far-right group known for its association with white supremacists and history of violence, served as a notable example of this recruitment method.

Facebook’s algorithmic suggestions can lead users into these extremist groups; previously, these suggestions were displayed in a box alongside a group’s activities. For Facebook pages, these suggestions continue to appear alongside the primary content stream, directing users to “related pages.”

Facebook prohibited the Proud Boys from its platform in late 2018. However, groups advocating violence that maintained a lower profile continued to have a substantial presence on the platform well into 2020, including numerous state-level “patriot” organizations and anti-government boogaloo groups that coordinated firearm and combat training sessions through the platform.

In June, Facebook banned a “violent network” of boogaloo groups, but other groups persisted, organizing under coded language associated with the boogaloo movement. A boogaloo page identified by TechCrunch, named “definitely not boogaloo,” was recently selling “Boogaloo Boys” patches and sharing violent memes.

This presents a challenge for researchers and journalists monitoring such activity, as Facebook recently removed the feature allowing users to quickly view the number of members in a public group directly from the search page.

Facebook recently revealed plans to actually increase the visibility of its public groups, presenting them to a larger audience. “Posts from Public Groups may now receive greater distribution both on and off Facebook, enabling more people to discover and participate in conversations,” Facebook stated in its announcement.