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Extradition delayed for Wisconsin man charged in kidnap plot by The Associated Press Last Updated Dec 16, 2020 at 1:14 pm EDT PORTAGE, Wis. — A Wisconsin man accused in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should be extradited to Michigan, but he will be given a chance to appeal first, a judge ruled. Brian Higgins was allegedly part of a crew conducting surveillance of the governor’s vacation home for the kidnapping plot. He is charged with material support of an act of terrorism. The Wisconsin Dells man, 52, is jailed in Columbia County until the appeal of his extradition is d...

Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Todd Hepler rejected the defense’s line of reasoning. “Mr. Higgins is not being deported to some third-world kangaroo court,” Hepler said during a Zoom hearing Tuesday. “He will enjoy all of the constitutional rights guaranteed to every American citizen, including due process of law.” Higgins is among 14 men charged in the domestic terrorism case. The plotters planned to storm Michigan’s state Capitol building and kidnap officials, including the Democratic governor, officials said. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer thanked law enforcement o...

2020/12/17 02:03 PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin man accused in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should be extradited to Michigan, but he will be given a chance to appeal first, a judge ruled. Brian Higgins was allegedly part of a crew conducting surveillance of the governor’s vacation home for the kidnapping plot. He is charged with material support of an act of terrorism. The Wisconsin Dells man, 52, is jailed in Columbia County until the appeal of his extradition is decided. Defense attorney Christopher Van Wagner argued t...

Wisconsin judge won't block extradition of defendant in Whitmer plot A Wisconsin judge on Tuesday declined to quash the extradition to Michigan of Brian Higgins, who is charged as part of the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.  But Columbia County Circuit Judge Todd Hepler also stayed his order, so that Higgins won't be removed to Michigan while he pursues an appeal in higher Wisconsin courts. With that appeal expected to last a year or more, prosecutors warned the judge's decision would delay their case and could result in Higgins' prosecution being bifurcated from those of the...

But shortly after issuing his ruling, Hepler agreed to stay the decision, saying that the public would not be at risk with Higgins in custody in Wisconsin while his appeal is heard. In fact, with Higgins still in custody, he has the most to lose with the delay, Hepler said. "I do not think Mr. Higgins' appeal is frivolous under the circumstances," Hepler said. An attorney for the state of Michigan, Assistant Attorney General John Pallas, was allowed to speak at the Wisconsin hearing and suggested an appeal could take one year, making the case more difficult for prosecutors because Higgins'...