Whitmer kidnap retrial: Mistrust of government dominates jury selection process

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Weeding out jurors who don't trust the government appears be a top priority in the retrial of two men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — if the judge's questions and comments are any indication.

As jury selection began Tuesday morning, the judge asked prospective jurors repeatedly about how they felt about the government, noting that the case is loaded with controversial issues: a sitting governor's response to the pandemic, mask mandates, lockdowns and an FBI investigation into an alleged plot to kidnap her.

During jury selection in the last trial, which ended with no convictions, the judge asked prospective jurors if they could set aside their political views or any preconceived ideas about the case. But he didn't focus as heavily on the topic of mistrust in the government as he did Tuesday, when multiple hands went up when asked if they had reservations about being fair in this case due to mistrust of the government.

"I don't like politicians or politics. I don't personally trust them ... I just don't particularly trust the government in general," said one woman, a hairdresser. "It's a very unpopular opinion to have to say out loud in federal court."

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