Michigan AG blasts conviction reversal of man alleged to have supported kidnap plot of Gov. Whitmer

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had harsh words about the decision of a Michigan Court of Appeals to reverse the conviction of a man convicted of allegedly providing support in a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

"This ruling is completely and irredeemably nonsensical, outrageous and irresponsible. For the panel to declare that kidnapping is not a violent felony strains all legal credibility and insults the intelligence of every person in this state," Nessel said in a statement. 

In 2022, Joseph Morrison was convicted of providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership and felony firearm for his role in an alleged plot to kidnap Whitmer. The appeals court on Tuesday overturned his conviction, saying that kidnapping does not qualify as a "violent felony" under Michigan's anti-terrorism law.

"The Court twists itself into a knot using legal and linguistic gymnastics in order to liberate dangerous criminals using convoluted definitions of the crimes upon which they were convicted," Nessel said. 

Nessel said that her office plans to appeal the ruling.