FBI Agent Richard Trask OIDV Case:
Bodycam video shows takedown of FBI agent in Whitmer kidnap plot
WOOD TV8 News
Dec 19, 2021
"Do not turn your volume off on this case. OK? Keep it on the whole time."
Keep an eye on Agent Richard Trask's criminal case. I wouldn't be surprised if this is pled down under MCL769.4a - Michigan's Lautenberg Amendment/Domestic Violence Gun Ban Loophole for law enforcement and officials charged with any act of domestic violence less than murder. Trask is the lead FBI agent in the investigation of the Governor Whitmer kidnapping plot.
If Trask pleads under MCL 769.4a: 1) Stiffest punishment would be 12 months probation; 2) Conviction would be expunged at end of probation period; 3) Trask would be able to return to position with FBI as he would be allowed to use a firearm, despite DV conviction.
FBI agent charged in assault of wife headed toward jury trial
MLive
August 31, 2021
KALAMAZOO, MI – The FBI agent accused of assaulting his wife is headed toward a jury trial.
Richard Trask waived his preliminary examination Aug. 31 before Kalamazoo County District Court Judge Christopher Haenicke. Trask is charged with one felony charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.
Trask’s case was sent to Kalamazoo County Circuit Court where a hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The charge stems from an incident on July 18 at the home he shares with his wife in Oshtemo Township.
Trask is accused of assaulting his wife by smashing her head into a nightstand and choking her. When police arrived on scene, she had blood running down her head, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Trask joined the FBI in 2011 as a special agent, according to his LinkedIn page. He is the lead agent in the case against the people accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
In their bedroom at home, the wife was laying down when Trask got on top of her and grabbed the sides of her head, the affidavit said. Trask smashed her head into a nearby nightstand multiple times, the wife told police.
She then tried to grab Trask’s beard to get him off, but he started to choke her, the affidavit said. The woman told police she doesn’t think she lost consciousness.
The wife grabbed Trask’s testicles, which ended the fight, the affidavit said.
Whitmer kidnapping plot under fire after allegations FBI told informant to lie, delete text messages
Iosco News-Herald
Aug 16, 2021
When the Michigan government announced the foiling of a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in October of 2020, many applauded the law enforcement agency working the case.
Attorneys for the alleged members of the kidnapping plot, however, are claiming Federal Bureau of Investigation deceit and entrapment of innocent people.
Mlive reported Michael Hills, an attorney for Brandon Caserta, one of six men indicted, claimed an FBI special agent told a paid confidential informant identified as “Dan” to lie, delete messages between them, and implicate an innocent third party.
Hills requested government provide all communications between “Dan” and the FBI.
“These text messages indicate the F.B.I. was pushing their paid agent to actively recruit people into an overt act in furtherance of a conspiracy,” Hills wrote.
“Counsel has found further text messages between (special agent) Impola and Dan indicating Dan should destroy his text messages and instruct Dan to lie and accuse an innocent 3rd party of being a federal agent spy to the founder of Wolverine Watchmen.”
Mlive said Hills provided a transcript of the FBI agent, who allegedly texted: “Copy. Best thing to do is deny and accuse somebody else like Trent.” The agent, again allegedly, instructed the informant to “Be sure to delete these.”
If true, this would continue to build the case the FBI entrapped several people in this plan.
“The F.B.I is instructing a paid F.B.I. informant to lie and paint an innocent citizen as an undercover federal agent to a man they claim is the head of a domestic terrorist organization, who they claim is paranoid about being infiltrated by the feds, who they claim has bragged about tossing a Molotov cocktail into a police officer’s house,” Hills said. “This behavior, evidenced by the telephonic communication between F.B.I. handler Impola and Dan, casts a dark shadow over the credibility of this investigation and demonstrates the need for immediate disclosure as demanded.”
However, the government argues these people weren’t entrapped but chose to pursue a radical agenda.
The deceit continues to blur the line between who was an FBI agent, confidential informant, or an extremist and which group fueled the conspiracy.
In July 2021, Buzzfeed reported the FBI was involved when the plot began and even used informants to encourage the group to carry out its plans. Militiamen say this is entrapment and claim they couldn’t have advanced the plot without government informants, who went as far as to lead military training simulations.
The lead FBI agent credited with foiling the plot, special Agent Richard Trask, 39, was arrested in July and charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm after allegedly beating and choking his wife after returning home from a swinger sex party. An affidavit says Trask got on top of his wife Sandy in their bed and “grabbed the side of her head and smashed it several times on the nightstand."
Court date delayed for FBI agent accused of assaulting wife
MLive
Aug 03, 2021
KALAMAZOO, MI – The next court date for the FBI agent charged with assault was delayed a month.
Richard Trask is charged with one felony charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder in Kalamazoo County District Court. The charge stems from an incident on July 18 at the home he shares with his wife in Oshtemo Township.
He had a preliminary examination Tuesday, Aug. 3. During an in-person hearing, the preliminary examination was adjourned to Aug. 31, in part, due to a necessary witness who was unable to be in court. The Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office had no additional comment, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Scott Brower said.
Trask is accused of assaulting his wife by smashing her head into a nightstand and choking her. When police arrived on scene, she had blood running down her head, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Trask joined the FBI in 2011 as a special agent, according to his LinkedIn page. He is the lead agent in the case against the people accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“Richard Trask is a very honorable man,” defense attorney Sarissa Montague said. “He has served this community for many, many, many years. He loves his family. He loves his job, and he loves his country.”
In their bedroom at home, the wife was laying down when Trask got on top of her and grabbed the sides of her head, the affidavit said. Trask smashed her head into a nearby nightstand multiple times, the wife told police.
She then tried to grab Trask’s beard to get him off, but he started to choke her, the affidavit said. The woman told police she doesn’t think she lost consciousness.
The wife grabbed Trask’s testicles, which ended the fight, the affidavit said.
Trask’s case should not be tried in the media, instead it needs to stay in the courtroom, Montague said.
“For now, I’m asking people to understand that this is a very difficult time for him and his family,” she said. “We’re asking that you give him privacy and his family privacy until this case is adjudicated.”
Attorney speaks after arraignment of FBI agent
FOX 17 News - West Michigan
August 03, 2021
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The attorney of an FBI agent that was charged with assault last month has released a statement Tuesday afternoon.
"Richard Trask is an honorable man who has served his country throughout his entire career,” Attorney Sarissa Montague said. "He loves his family and career as a servant to our nation. Out of respect to all parties involved, we will not try this case in the court of public opinion."
Trask was reportedly given a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, which he posted.
Attorney for FBI agent charged with beating woman says he's 'a honorable man'
WWMT TV - News Channel 3
August 3rd 2021
FBI agent Richard Trask (right) declined to comment after leaving the Kalamazoo County Courthouse Aug. 3, 2021 (WWMT/Mike Krafcik)
FBI agent Richard Trask (right) declined to comment after leaving the Kalamazoo County Courthouse Aug. 3, 2021 (WWMT/Mike Krafcik)
FBI agent Richard Trask (pictured) covers his face as he leaves the Kalamazoo County Courthouse Aug. 3, 2021 (WWMT/Mike Krafcik)
FBI agent Richard Trask is charged with assault with intent to do harm after deputies said Trask beat a woman at his Oshtemo Township home July 18, 2021 (WWMT/Kalamazoo County Jail)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A FBI agent on the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping case charged with assaulting a woman refused to answer questions as he left a Kalamazoo County courtroom Wednesday.
Richard Trask and his attorney did not questions on whether he will still be one of the lead FBI agents testifying against suspects accused of plotting to kidnap Whitmer. Trask appeared in Kalamazoo County District Court for a preliminary exam hearing, which was adjourned until Aug. 31.
FBI agent Richard Trask offered no comment as he left the Kalamazoo Court House
Trask is charged with assault with intent to do harm after Kalamazoo County deputies said Trask beat a woman at his home July 18.
Court records reveal Trask and a woman got into several arguments after leaving a swingers party at a Kalamazoo County hotel. Deputies said later that same night, Trask smashed the woman’s head into a nightstand several times and started to choke her at his Osthemo Township home.
Trask is one of the lead FBI agents testifying in federal and state court cases tied to the alleged plot to kidnap the governor.
Sarissa Montague, Trask's attorney, called the agent "an honorable man" as she read from a prepared statement outside court Wednesday.
"He’s spent his entire career protecting and serving his nation, he loves his family, his job and loves this country. We're not trying this case in the media, we're going to leave that for the courtroom. This is a difficult time for him and his family," said Montague.
Hearing delayed four weeks for key FBI agent in Whitmer kidnap case
The Detroit News
August 03, 2021
An evidentiary hearing for an assault charge against a key FBI agent in the alleged kidnapping plot against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was adjourned for about four weeks Tuesday.
A prosecutor told Kalamazoo County District Judge Richard Santoni that an officer involved in the case against Richard Trask was out of town and unavailable for the preliminary examination, a hearing held to determine whether there is enough evidence to send a case to trial.
Defense also mentioned there was a "non-participating complainant" in the case.
Santoni granted the adjournment of the preliminary examination, allowing for a four-week delay for the hearing.
Trask, 39, is accused of hitting his wife's head against a nightstand and choking her following an argument related to their attendance at a swingers' party. He was charged last month with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.
Court filings in his case indicate Trask's wife had bloody lacerations on the right side of her head and "blood all over chest, clothing arms and hand," as well as "severe" bruising to her neck and throat.
Trask, who was tracked down in the parking lot of a supermarket on Main Street in Oshtemo Township, refused to give a statement about the incident after he was read his Miranda rights, according to the affidavit.
An employee of the FBI since 2011, Trask served as the public face in the agency's investigation of an alleged attempt to kidnap Whitmer and testified in federal court in the case.
His arrest came as defense lawyers leveled a broad attack on the foundation of the high-profile case and suggested a second FBI agent was trying to sabotage defense teams. Defense attorneys appear to have adopted a strategy that targets in large part the work of FBI agents and claims that FBI informants entrapped men accused in the alleged kidnapping plot.
The defendants in the case have been portrayed by their attorneys as tough talkers who never carried out the planned kidnapping.
Documents Reveal More About Gruesome Abuse Allegations Against Lead FBI Agent on Gretchen Whitmer Kidnapping Case
Law And Crime
July 28, 2021
Police reports obtained by Law&Crime through a public records request shed new light on domestic violence charges against a key FBI agent involved in the prosecution of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s alleged would-be kidnappers.
FBI Special Agent Richard Trask, 39, stands accused of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, according to Kalamazoo County Court records reviewed by Law&Crime after being arrested on charges of aggravated felonious assault against a family member who was being strong armed, a term of art under Michigan law which is defined as “the use of physical force or coercion.”
That physical force, according to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department, left Trask’s wife of five years in a state of blood-soaked fear, embarrassment and apprehension about her husband’s career.
Dispatch for the law enforcement agency noted that the “female was heavily bleeding [and] she did not know where she was bleeding from,” a criminal information notes. Trask’s wife was still in the bedroom where she was allegedly beaten when she made the 911 call.
As sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, unable to locate the front door of the house, the alleged victim came out to meet them.
“[Y]ou could see blood running down from her face with multiple blood stains on her clothes,” Deputy Paul Kidd wrote in the information.
“She had what appeared to be a paper towel as she was attempting to stop the bleeding from the right side of her head,” the document continues. “She appeared to be extremely frightened and she kept repeating herself that she was embarrassed.”
Deputies and a sergeant began searching for the suspect after learning that he had left the scene in his wife’s 2020 Toyota Highlander–one of many vehicles used by the family.
After fruitless searches of locations brainstormed by the three responding officers, Kidd was instructed to head back to the station and prepare his report. On the way, the deputy and his supervisor both got a “ping” and eventually Trask was located.
“After he was secured in my cruiser, I rolled down his window and read his Miranda rights off of the Miranda Rights card issued to me by Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department,” Kidd noted. “Trask stated that he did understand his rights. I asked him if he wanted to give me a statement regarding what had happened in the night and he stated he did not.”
But the FBI agent allegedly spoke up at least once while in custody:
While in the backseat of my cruiser, TRASK remained silent with the exception of asking me what his charges were regarding this event. I had told TRASK that he was being lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail for aggravated domestic violence, assault by strangulation. At this point, he remained quiet for the remainder of the transport. As it was pitch black out due to the time being approximately 04:16 when the arrest was made, when we got into the sally part of the garage, it was clear that TRASK had dried blood all over his body, to include his chest, back, and his hands. During the change out process, the jail nurse had arrived on scene. The jail nurse had verified that there were no injuries on TRASK and that the blood that was on his body did not come from himself.
The alleged incident–and what led up to it–that produced the blood on Trask’s body is described in detail.
According to the document, Trask’s wife told deputies she “was not really into the swinger life” and that this “kept [her husband] at an irritated state” as the couple “attended a couple’s swinger retreat at the Delta Hotel in Oshtemo, Michigan.”
Upon arriving home, the couple became deeply enmeshed in a verbal argument, the document says.
“While in bed, Trask had gotten on top of [his wife] and then in a physical altercation, grabbed her head and started smashing it against the night table in their bedroom,” the information alleges. “She states that after being struck many times in the face, Trask then put his hands around her neck and started to strangulate her.”
“[Trask’s wife] stated that she had grabbed Trask’s testicles as hard as she could and therefore he had jumped off of her,” she told Kidd in response to a question as to how the incident came to a conclusion. “While the altercation was happening, she states that she was attempting to free herself from Trask and she had attempted to grab his beard multiple times, attempting to rip his head/face away from her body.”
Kidd notes the extent of the injuries photographed that night:
I did start my photos with the case screen on my patrol cruiser. I then took a faraway photo and then worked my way closer to her injuries. As I was taking photos, it was evident that she had several lacerations in her skull, as well severe bruising around her neck and throat area. It did appear that she had minor scrapes on her forearms and hands from trying to defend herself from the assault. Shortly after taking photographs, EMS had arrived on scene.
As EMS rendered aid to the FBI agent’s wife, she “removed the paper towel [and] she still had blood running out of her right side laceration in her skull.”
While being triaged, sheriff’s deputies were able to obtain Trask’s cellular phone number “as he was actively texting [his wife] stating messages in a hateful manner.”
Those allegedly hateful text messages eventually led police right to the FBI agent who authored the original federal criminal complaint filed against the men who allegedly planned to kidnap Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Whitmer over her COVID-19 mandates.
The couple’s children were, on the advice of authorities, taken to stay with a coworker that night and left while paramedics dealt with the alleged victim’s wounds.
“I had asked [Trasks’s wife] if she was seeking prosecution regarding the assault and she stated no, she did not want to ruin his career,” Kidd noted near the end of his report. “I again reminded her that she needed to talk to the prosecutor regardless of her decision and she stated she understood.”
Note: Trask’s wife is not being named in the story as she is an alleged victim of domestic violence. For that reason, the documents which name her are also not being embedded herein.
Silence Is Not An Option
Comment To: Robert Gruler Esq's video - "Undercover FBI Agent Richard Trask Assaults Wife and is Released On Bond"
July 25, 2021
I am the founder of the OIDV Project Of Michigan/Officer Involved Domestic Violence. In short, Michigan officials and legislators do not care about these victims. The concern of our officials/legislators is in protecting the abusing officer. Michigan offers absolutely no protections/programs for victims of OIDV.
FBI Agent Richard Trask will not be held accountable for his assault on his wife. Michigan legislators have protected abusing LE officers from accountability via MCL 769.4a - which allows an abuser to plead guilty to any offense of DV (less than murder). The offender's only punishment under MCL 769.4a is probation, AND the offense is removed from their record/disappears after one year. Additionally, all criminal hearings under MCL 769.4a are private and the media cannot report on the case/sentence.
Although state laws cannot supersede federal laws, MCL 769.4a circumvents the Lautenberg/DV Gun Ban [18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)]; The Gun Control Act of 1968 [18U.S.C. 44§921] and the Federal Crime Victims Right Act [18 U.S. Code § 3771].
Additionally, victims of OIDV are not protected under Color Of Law.
Sadly, there is no concern for the safety of FBI agent Trask's victim - or for the retaliation that the responding PD/officer may be subjected to.
Entrapment accusations and scandal emerge in Whitmer kidnapping plot case
MLive
Jul 25, 2021
Entrapment claims, allegations that media tainted the possibility of a fair trial and the arrest of a lead FBI agent who’s now accused of brutally beating his wife following a swingers’ sex party are among the latest developments in the prosecution of 14 men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
One night in September, three vehicles filled with alleged terrorists and undercover FBI informants conducted surveillance on Whitmer’s vacation home.
A group stopped to inspect a bridge that one FBI informant said he could help them detonate in an effort to slow police response should they abduct Whitmer from her Birch Lake cottage near Grand Traverse Bay. Others used night vision goggles to peer in on the politician’s home from across the water at a boat launch.
The plan, according to the FBI and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, was to kidnap Whitmer and potentially strand her in the lake or transport her to Wisconsin to be tried for treason in the hopes of sparking a civil war, officials have said.
The men were angry over coronavirus lockdown orders that they believed infringed on their rights.
Attorneys for several of the accused conspirators in court filings and during arguments claim this is a case of entrapment, that without the FBI and its at least one dozen paid informants encouraging the men, offering up an explosives expert or paying for hotels and other costs related to meetings and training sessions, the plan would have never hatched.
Entrapment
Portage-based attorney Scott Graham, who represents Kaleb Franks, believes the government is withholding a trove of communications that would prove that argument.
“When Kaleb Franks set out to train in weaponry and tactics, enjoy time outdoors, and spend a midwestern summer trying to find respite from the cares of professional and personal obligations and demands, he had no thoughts of harassing the government, staging a coup, or ending up on the national stage as an alleged terrorist,” Graham wrote in a July 15 federal court filing. “Only through the diligent efforts of government informants and undercover agents did Mr. Franks end up framed as a lawless agitator.”
Graham in a motion is asking Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker of the Western District of Michigan to order the FBI to release to the defense all of its communications with and files pertaining to informants.
“Counsel asks the court to order the government to produce all materials related to the confidential human sources used in this case, their qualifications and the vetting they underwent, their performance and their communication with agents, and any instructions and admonishments,” Graham wrote.
Similar accusations were put forth in another motion filed July 12 by attorney Michael D. Hills, who represents Brandon Caserta. Hills points to a brief text-message exchange between an FBI handler and informant that he believes illustrates possible entrapment.
A portion of the conversation appeared in cellphone screen shots that Hills believes the government inadvertently released to the defendants as part if its discovery and evidence release. Now Hill is asking for a full forensic imaging and extraction of the the informant and FBI agent involved in the exchange.
The FBI agent, identified in the filing as Henrick Impola, asked the informant, who used the moniker “Thor,” to “maximize attendance” and invite several of the now defendants, including Daniel Harris, Adam Fox, the alleged ringleader, and Ty Garbin, to conduct reconnaissance at Whitmer’s vacation home.
“In the small window the defense has into communications ... the FBI is encouraging its paid informant, on FBI phones, to actively bring Caserta into a recon to create an overt act in furtherance of conspiracy, or create evidence of an agreement regarding a conspiracy,” Hills wrote. “Thor gets the command from his handler and complies, actively orchestrating and pushing at least one of the overt acts alleged in the superseding indictment, that is attempting to corral as many people into the alleged conspiracy as possible.”
Domestic violence
FBI Agent Richard Trask II testified for the prosecution in several federal hearings as one of the lead orchestrators and supervisors of the sting that led to 13 arrests in October.
He’s now facing criminal charges of his own, accused of smashing his wife’s head against a nightstand and choking her at a home in Kalamazoo County’s Oshtemo Township on July 18, according to a criminal complaint filed this week.
On the day of the attack, Trask and his wife drank alcohol while attending a swingers party at a hotel in Oshtemo Township, Trask’s wife told police. She didn’t like the event and the couple fought on the drive home, according to an affidavit in support of the charges against Trask.
In their bedroom at home, the wife was laying down when Trask got on top of her and grabbed the sides of her head, the affidavit said. Trask smashed her head into a nearby nightstand multiple times, the wife told police.
Trask’s wife then tried to grab Trask’s beard to get him off of her, but he started to choke her, the affidavit said. The woman told police she doesn’t think she lost consciousness before she grabbed Trask’s testicles, ending the fight, the affidavit said.
Trask’s wife had multiple cuts on the right side of her head and severe bruising on her neck when police arrived, the affidavit said. She also had blood running out of her head and all over her chest, clothing, arms and hands. Trask grabbed some clothing and fled the house in his wife’s vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Police found Trask in the Meijer parking lot where he was arrested and refused to give a statement. Trask is charged with a felony count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The FBI has acknowledged that it is aware of the charges, but spokesperson Mara Schneider declined further comment. It’s not clear if Trask’s role as a lead witness for the prosecution in the kidnap plot case will continue.
Media meddling
The unique circumstances surrounding the Whitmer kidnap plot spurred extraordinary public interest in the case, including national attention from the New York Times and Buzzfeed.
That attention, attorney Hills wrote in a request to change the venue of the trial, tentatively set for Oct. 12 in Grand Rapids, “has corrupted the potential trial atmosphere to the point that Mr. Franks will be denied a fair trial in Michigan.”
If the judge grants the motion, it would be a rare ruling.
Judge Jonker has already taken measures to attempt and ensure public scrutiny doesn’t bias possible jurors. A protective order was issued to ban attorneys from discussing and sharing documents or evidence with the public or media.
Several media companies, including the Detroit News and New York Times, fought for and successfully convinced the court to allow release of certain photos and videos entered into the record as exhibits during a detention hearing for defendant Carry Croft Jr. Photos depict Croft with armed with a military-style gun and shouldering a Boogaloo Boys Hawaiian pattern flag. The video shows croft is seen crouching behind barrels and firing on targets with a rifle while wearing a Continental soldier-styled hat during a Wisconsin training exercise.
The judge, however, denied media requests for audio recordings of Croft that were played at his detention hearing.
“In the audio recordings, defendant Croft expounds in an excited tone about his intent to commit acts of terrorism and claims God has granted him permission to do so,” Jonker wrote in his order denying release of the audio. “In one recording, Croft explicitly discusses kidnapping Governor Whitmer.
“These recordings are more inflammatory in tone than most of the exhibits introduced at the codefendants’ hearings, and they also speak to ultimate issues, which carries the greater danger of tainting the prospective jury pool.”
Jonker acknowledged public interest in the case is “legitimate,” but said he must weigh that against the bias public access to the case could potentially create.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicated it disagrees with the request to move the trial, but has not yet submitted a brief on the subject.
FOX News video of FBI Agent Richard Trask's arrest for domestic violence DELETED!!!
Jul 24, 2021
FBI Special Agent Charged With Felony Assault
Federal Law Enforcement Careers
Jul 24, 2021
Many of you are aware of an FBI investigation that charged members of a Michigan militia who are alleged to have plotted to kidnap the Governor of Michigan. Now the Case Agent in that investigation, Special Agent Richard Trask, has been charged with felony assault on his wife.
Undercover FBI Agent Richard Trask Assaults Wife and is Released On Bond
Robert Gruler Esq. Live
July 23, 2021
FBI agent Richard Trask appeared in Court facing criminal charges for assaulting his wife after a swinger’s party and we review the interplay with the Governor Whitmer kidnapping plot.
And more! Join criminal defense lawyer Robert F. Gruler in a discussion on the latest legal, criminal and political news, including:
🔵 FBI Agent Richard Trask II was in court facing charges of one count of felony assault.
🔵 According to an affidavit filed by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Trask allegedly smashed his wife’s head into a nightstand multiple times.
🔵 FBI agent Richard Trask was the same agent who authored the criminal complaint and affidavit against the alleged Whitmer kidnappers.
🔵 Trask, who has worked for the FBI since 2011 and is 39 years old, was upset after a swinger’s party.
🔵 Live chat after each segment at watchingthewatchers.locals.com!
FBI Agent Trask charged with assault to do great bodily harm
WDIV - Click On Detroit
July 22, 2021
Undercover FBI Agent Trask Assault
July 22, 2021
Robert Gruler Esq. Live
FBI agent Richard Trask appeared in Court facing criminal charges for assaulting his wife after a swinger’s party and we review the interplay with the Governor Whitmer kidnapping plot.
FBI agent accused of attacking a woman after a swinger's party, according to authorities
WWMT News - Channel 3
July 22, 2021
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A key investigator into the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was accused of attacking a woman.
A Kalamazoo County Judge charged Richard James Trask, an FBI agent who was part of the investigation into the plot to kidnap Whitmer, with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder after court documents show he was arrested July 18, 2021, in the Meijer parking lot on West Main Street in Oshtemo.
“The FBI is aware of the recent charges brought by the Kalamazoo County, Michigan Prosecuting Attorney’s Office involving an FBI Special Agent. We are fully cooperating with the prosecuting attorney’s office on this matter. In accordance with FBI police, the incident is subject to internal review, and we cannot comment further at this time,” FBI Special Agent Mara Schneider, the public affairs officer, said.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff deputies were told that Richard James Trask, 39, and a woman had gone to a swinger party held at a hotel on Holiday Lane and had been in several arguments throughout the night before leaving.
Once at home, the court documents state, the woman told police that he smashed her head into a nightstand several times and started strangling her. She grabbed his testicles, which caused him to let go.
When Kalamazoo County Sheriff deputies arrived to the 10th Street Oshtemo Township home Sunday night they said they found the woman with blood running from several cuts on her head and bruising on her neck.
The woman said he grabbed some clothes and left in her vehicle.
Deputies said they found Trask in the vehicle in the West Main Street Meijer parking lot. He was arrested.
He was released on bond. He faces 10 years in prison if convicted.
Trask's arrest comes as a federal judge has set a trial date for six of the men charged in connection with a plot to kidnap and kill Whitmer.
Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were charged with conspiracy to kidnap the governor of Michigan. They face up to life in prison if convicted.
FBI agent involved in Gov. Whitmer investigation accused of assaulting wife
Detroit Free Press
July 22, 2021
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — An FBI agent whose affidavit supported the initial charges in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is accused of assaulting his wife after returning home from a party.
Details were in a court filing accompanying the felony charge against Richard Trask, The Detroit News reported Wednesday.
Trask's wife had lacerations on her head and blood on her chest, arms and hand, Kalamazoo County sheriff's investigators wrote.
She ended the attack Sunday by grabbing Trask's groin, investigators said.
Trask is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. The FBI has declined to comment about his job status since Monday when he appeared in court and was released on bond.
A defense lawyer has not filed an appearance in the case, the clerk's office said Wednesday.
Trask has testified and provided details about an alleged scheme to kidnap Whitmer last year in retaliation for her orders to slow the spread of the coronavirus. One man has pleaded guilty in federal court and roughly a dozen others are awaiting trial, some in state court.
FBI agent in Gov. Whitmer kidnap bust accused of attacking wife: report
Richard Trask could face up to 10 years in prison for the assault
FOX News - Detroit
July 22, 2021
An FBI agent who worked the controversial investigation into the alleged plot to kill Michigan’s governor was arrested earlier this week for assaulting his wife after the two went to a swingers party, a local report said.
G-Man Richard Trask of Kalamazoo repeatedly slammed his wife’s head into a nightstand and choked her with both hands before she stopped the attack by grabbing his crotch on Sunday, The Detroit News reported, citing a court affidavit.
Trask’s wife’s chest, clothes and hand were covered in blood and she had "severe" bruises on around her neck, the affidavit reportedly said.
The two had come home after attending an Oshtempo Township hotel event the publication called "a swingers party." After some drinks, they argued on the way home about how Trask’s wife didn’t enjoy the party, the News stated.
Once home, he allegedly got on top of her in bed and "smashed" her head into the nightstand several times before she tried to grab his beard to get free, the affidavit said. That’s when he allegedly choked her, the News reported.
Trask, 39, was arrested Monday and was released on bond, the News said.
"In accordance with FBI policy, the incident is subject to internal review, and I cannot comment further at this time," FBI spokeswoman Mara Schneider told LawandCrime.com
He is facing up to 10 years in prison on a charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, according to the News.
Trask’s affidavit was used in charges against the people accused of plotting to kidnap and kill Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in retaliation of her COVID-19 shutdown orders, the Associated Press reported. Trask testified in the case, the AP said.
Some 14 people allegedly part of a group called the Wolverine Watchmen were charged in the plot, but the men have pushed back and said they were set up by the FBI because of their political views.
FBI agent in Whitmer kidnap plot arrested for assaulting wife after swingers party argument
FOX 2 Detroit
Jul 21, 2021
There are new details involving the arrest of the lead federal investigator of the plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer. That same FBI agent, Richard Trask, has testified several times in court about the alleged scheme - now, he's accused of assaulting his wife.
FBI agent at center of Whitmer kidnap probe assaulted wife after swingers' party, authorities say
The Detroit News
July 21, 2021
An FBI agent at the center of the investigation into the plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is accused of smashing his wife's head against a nightstand and choking her after a dispute stemming from their attendance at a swingers' party, according to court records.
Special Agent Richard Trask, 39, of Kalamazoo, was charged Monday with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, less than murder following the alleged incident Sunday.
An affidavit filed by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office in Kalamazoo County District Court said Trask's wife had bloody lacerations to the right side of her head and "blood all over chest, clothing arms and hand," as well as "severe" bruising to her neck and throat.
She told police she and her husband had several drinks at a swingers' party held at a hotel in the 2700 block of S. 11 Street in Oshtemo Township, just west of Kalamazoo, according to the affidavit. She added that she did not like the party and they argued about it on the way home.
Once they arrived home, Trask got on top of her in their bed and "then grabbed the side of her head and smashed it several times on the nightstand," according to the affidavit.
She attempted to grab his beard to free herself, and he began to choke her around the neck and throat with both hands, according to the affidavit. She ultimately grabbed Trask's testicles, which ended the altercation, the document notes, and Trask left the Oshtemo Township home in her vehicle.
Trask, who was tracked down in the parking lot of a supermarket on Main Street in Oshtemo Township, refused to give a statement about the incident after he was read his Miranda rights, according to the affidavit.
Trask, 39, has worked for the FBI since 2011 and served as the FBI's public face in the Whitmer case, testifying in federal court about the investigation. He has worked on cases involving espionage, terrorism and domestic extremism investigations.
The FBI on Wednesday declined to comment. FBI spokeswoman Mara Schneider on Monday said the bureau is cooperating with the prosecutor's office. Trask's job status was unclear.
"In accordance with FBI policy, the incident is subject to internal review, and I cannot comment further at this time," she said in a statement.
Trask was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond following an arraignment in 8th District Court in Kalamazoo and faces a charge punishable by up to 10 years in prison. As part of his bond conditions, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Aside from his FBI duties, Trask opened a gym at his rural property in Oshtemo Township near Kalamazoo and offers CrossFit training, according to social media posts and state business filings. He filed state paperwork for BCB Health & Wellness last year and maintains an active Instagram account showing him exercising, flexing and posing shirtless.
Trask's arrest comes at a critical juncture in the criminal case against five men charged in federal court with plotting to kidnap Whitmer. Defense lawyers last week leveled a broad attack on the foundation of the high-profile case and suggested a second FBI agent was trying to sabotage defense teams.
“It’s the last thing you want for a major case like this,” said Andrew Arena, former special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit office. “Any time you give the defense any ammunition it's not good.”
The internal review would include an investigation by FBI internal affairs, Arena said.
“Depending on the severity, it could be a suspension until things are ironed out one way or another,” Arena said.
Trask was arrested one week after defense lawyers provided the clearest view of how they plan to attack the kidnapping plot case.
Court filings revealed a defense strategy that involves suppressing evidence, attacking the work of FBI agents and claiming FBI informants entrapped men accused in the conspiracy. Five men are awaiting an October trial in federal court in Grand Rapids, though one defendant has asked U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker to move the trial out of Michigan, arguing media conduct and coverage had "corrupted the potential trial atmosphere."
The arrest is the second potential problem in the case to emerge in recent months.
In March, prosecutors indicted an informant who sources say helped the FBI infiltrate the alleged conspiracy, a rare legal development. The indictment of Wisconsin resident Stephen Robeson after a prolonged period of cooperation suggests the relationship between Robeson and the FBI is destroyed and that prosecutors do not plan on using him at trial, legal experts said.
But defense lawyers can try to call him as a witness and attack Robeson's credibility.
Trask testified in federal court in January against Delaware resident Barry Croft, an accused plotter who is portrayed as the group’s bomb maker. Trask identified Croft as the national leader of the 3 Percenters, a small militia that participated in the Jan. 6 insurgence at the U.S. Capitol.
During the court hearing, Trask helped provide context about multiple undercover recordings that included Croft. At the time, prosecutors wanted Croft held without bond, saying he was a violent extremist.
Defense lawyers have portrayed their clients as tough talkers who were exercising their First Amendment rights who never carried out any kidnapping plot.
FBI agent linked to Whitmer kidnapping case beat, choked wife after swingers’ party, court records say
MLive
July 21, 2021
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI – The FBI agent charged with assault smashed his wife’s head into a nightstand several times, according to court records.
Richard Trask II is charged with one felony count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder in Kalamazoo County District Court. The charge stems from a domestic violence incident, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office.
Blood was actively running down the side Trask’s wife’s head when police arrived at their home on North 10th Street in Oshtemo Township on July 18, the affidavit said. MLive and the Kalamazoo Gazette do not identify victims of domestic violence without consent.
Trask joined the FBI in 2011 as a special agent, according to his LinkedIn page. He is the lead agent in the case against the people accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Earlier in the day, Trask and his wife went to a swingers party at a Delta Hotel, 2747 S. 11th St. in Oshtemo Township, the wife told police. She did not like the event and they had multiple verbal arguments during the drive home, the affidavit said.
They had several drinks each, the affidavit said.
In their bedroom at home, the wife was laying down when Trask got on top of her and grabbed the sides of her head, the affidavit said. Trask smashed her head into a nearby nightstand multiple times, the wife told police.
She then tried to grab Trask’s beard to get him off, but he started to choke her, the affidavit said. The woman told police she doesn’t think she lost consciousness.
The wife grabbed Trask’s testicles, which ended the fight, the affidavit said.
She had multiple cuts on the right side of her head and severe bruising on her neck when police arrived, the affidavit said. She also had blood running out of her head and all over her chest, clothing, arms and hands.
Trask grabbed some clothing and fled the house in his wife’s vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Police found Trask in the Meijer parking lot, 6660 W. Main St. After he was read his Miranda rights, Trask said he understood and did not want to give a statement, the affidavit said.
The FBI knows about the charges, FBI spokeswoman Mara Schneider said in a statement sent to MLive. They cannot confirm if Trask is still actively working or not, Schneider said.
“We are fully cooperating with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on this matter,” Schneider said. “In accordance with FBI policy, the incident is subject to internal review, and we cannot comment further at this time.”
Trask was granted a personal recognizance bond. He is not allowed to return to his home address as part of his bond conditions, or contact his wife.
Trask is not allowed to possess a gun while out on bond, records show.
His next court hearing is net yet scheduled and he has not hired an attorney, court records show.
Lead FBI Agent on Whitmer Kidnapping Case Allegedly Beat Wife Until She Had ‘Blood All Over’ After Sex Party
Law And Crime
July 21st, 2021
A key FBI agent working on the investigation into the plot to kidnap and assassinate Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has been accused of brutally attacking his wife after the couple attended a party where partners offer each other up for sex with friends or strangers.
Authorities reportedly allege the victim made it out of the beating with bloody cuts on the right side of her head as well as “blood all over chest, clothing arms and hand,” and “severe” bruises on her neck and throat.
FBI agent Richard Trask, 39, stands accused of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, according to Kalamazoo County Court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
An affidavit obtained by The Detroit News alleges that Trask and his wife argued about the swingers’ party on their way home because the FBI agent’s wife was not happy about how things went there.
The alleged victim told police that her husband–whom she said had multiple drinks at the party–jumped on top of her in their bed and “then grabbed the side of her head and smashed it several times on the nightstand,” as she tried to escape from him.
According to the affidavit, Trask’s wife initially grabbed at his beard to get free but he began choking her neck and throat in response to that defensive effort. The struggle eventually ended when she grabbed her husband’s testicles, according to investigators.
Trask then allegedly left their home in his wife’s car, the affidavit alleges. The wanted FBI agent was later arrested by Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s deputies in a supermarket parking lot in Oshtemo Township, Mich.–the same town where the couple lives.
The affidavit claims Trask refused to give police any sort of statement about the incident following his arrest. A lawyer has yet to be named or noticed in the case. The FBI agent faces up to 10 years in prison, if convicted.
“In accordance with FBI policy, the incident is subject to internal review, and I cannot comment further at this time,” FBI spokesperson Mara Schneider said in a statement.
The embarrassing episode comes at a key time for the numerous state and federal defendants in the alleged kidnapping plot–as a recent exposé by BuzzFeed News revealed the FBI was aware of the anti-Whitmer effort all along and engaged in activity that one defendant alleged to be entrapment.
Entrapment, however, is an oft-claimed and rarely successful defense in domestic terrorism cases–though such defenses occasionally do yield dividends for the accused.
One defense attorney working the case claims that the government has been intentionally withholding potentially exculpatory evidence of entrapment in violation of the law.
A legal expert noted the Trask case could be played up to the hilt by the numerous defense attorneys representing 13 of the 14 defendants who have pleaded not guilty.
“It’s the last thing you want for a major case like this,” Andrew Arena, former special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit office, told The Detroit News. “Any time you give the defense any ammunition, it’s not good.”
Trask has worked for the FBI since 2011 and authored the original federal criminal complaint filed against the alleged kidnappers. His job status with the nation’s largest law enforcement agency is currently unclear.
FBI agent in investigation of Whitmer kidnap plot is charged
WWMT News
July 20, 2021
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Records show an FBI agent who has testified about an alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been charged with assault.
Richard Trask appeared in a Kalamazoo court Monday and was released. Online records show the alleged offense occurred Sunday.
The court file doesn’t list an attorney yet who could comment.
The FBI says the incident is under review. It declined any additional comment.
Trask has testified in state and federal courts in cases tied to an alleged scheme to kidnap Whitmer in retaliation for orders last year meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
One man has pleaded guilty and roughly a dozen others are awaiting trial.
Gretchen Whitmer kidnap: Who is Richard Trask? FBI agent probing plot charged with assaulting wife
Richard Trask of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was charged with assault and this is a setback to Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot probe
Meaww.com
Jul 20, 2021
An FBI agent originally credited with helping foil a plot to kidnap and murder Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is reportedly facing an assault charge, thereby complicating one of the most discussed cases of extremism in the country.
Special Agent Richard Trask, 39, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was charged on Monday, July 20, with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, less than murder, after a domestic incident with his wife the previous day. The charge is reportedly punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to The Detroit News.
Following arraignment in the 8th District Court of Kalamazoo, Trask was released from custody on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. His arrest came at a critical stage of the ongoing case against five men charged in federal court with plotting to kidnap Whitmer. Last week, defense lawyers rocked the foundation of the high-profile case as they suggested a second FBI agent was attempting to sabotage the defense.
Who is Richard Trask?
Richard Trask, 39, has worked for the FBI since 2011. He testified in federal court about the Whitmer investigation and served as the FBI's public face in the case. The veteran agent is said to have worked on a wide range of cases involving terrorism, espionage, and domestic extremism probes. “It’s the last thing you want for a major case like this,” said Andrew Arena, a former special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit office. “Any time you give the defense any ammunition it's not good.”
Meanwhile, FBI spokeswoman Mara Schneider said the bureau is cooperating with the prosecutor's office. "In accordance with FBI policy, the incident is subject to internal review, and I cannot comment further at this time," she said in a statement.
According to Arena, that review would include an investigation by the bureau's internal affairs. “Depending on the severity, it could be a suspension until things are ironed out one way or another,” he explained.
According to social media posts and state business filings obtained by The Detroit News, Trask opened a gym at his rural property in Oshtemo Township near Kalamazoo, where he offers CrossFit training. The special agent is said to have filed paperwork for BCB Health & Wellness last year, and his Instagram account has several photos of him posing shirtless and exercising. At the time of writing, the account had been made private.
Trask is prohibited from possessing a firearm, as part of his bond conditions. “If you can’t carry a weapon, then you’re not going to work as a street agent,” Arena explained. “He’s going to be suspended or put on restricted duty.”
Trask's arrest came one week after the defense team offered a glimpse of their strategy in the kidnapping plot case. According to court filings, defense lawyers attacked the work of FBI agents and claimed informants had entrapped men accused in the conspiracy. The five men accused in the plot are currently awaiting an October trial in federal court in Grand Rapids. One defendant reportedly asked US District Judge Robert Jonker to move the trial out of Michigan, arguing that the media coverage had "corrupted the potential trial atmosphere."
In January, Trask testified in federal court against Delaware resident Barry Croft, accusing him of being the group's bomb maker. Trask said Croft was the national leader of the 3 Percenters, a small militia that was allegedly part of the January 6 US Capitol riots. Trask provided context about several undercover recordings that portrayed Croft as a violent extremist. On the other hand, defense lawyers portrayed their clients as tough talkers who never carried out any kidnapping plot but were simply exercising their First Amendment rights.
“Croft was saying he was granted permission from God to commit murder, correct?” Assistant US Attorney Nils Kessler asked Trask in court. “Correct,” the FBI agent responded.
Trask was expected to play an instrumental role in the October trial of the five men accused in the Whitmer plot. “In an investigation like this, you’re always trying to ensure you have more than one person who can testify about that piece of evidence,” Arena said. “So if something happens, you’ve got a backup.”
Meanwhile, the defense has also raised concerns about the other lead investigator, FBI Special Agent Henrik Impola, accusing him of trying to sabotage defense teams. Joshua Blanchard, a lawyer for co-defendant Barry Croft, revealed a recording that reportedly had Impola plotting "disarray and chaos" against defense lawyers, whom he labeled "paid liars".
FBI agent in Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping case faces charges
Washington Times
July 19, 2021
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/19/richard-trask-fbi-agent-gretchen-whitmer-kidnappin/
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — An FBI agent who testified about an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is facing an assault charge, according to court records.
Richard Trask appeared in a Kalamazoo court Monday and was released. Online records show the alleged offense occurred Sunday.
The court file doesn’t list a defense attorney yet, according to the clerk’s office.
“In accordance with FBI policy, the incident is subject to internal review, and I cannot comment further at this time,” Detroit FBI spokeswoman Mara Schneider said.
Trask has provided details in federal court about an alleged scheme to kidnap Whitmer in retaliation for her orders last year meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. One man has pleaded guilty and roughly a dozen others are awaiting trial.
“It’s the last thing you want for a major case like this,” said Andy Arena, former head of the FBI office in Detroit. “Any time you give the defense any ammunition it’s not good.”
Trask can’t carry a gun while he‘s out on bond, The Detroit News reported.
FBI agent in Whitmer kidnap case arrested following domestic incident
The Detroit News
July 19, 2021
The arrest of an FBI agent credited with helping thwart a plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer complicates one of the most closely watched cases of violent extremism that is becoming increasingly focused on allegations of wrongdoing by investigators.
FBI Special Agent Richard Trask, 39, of Kalamazoo, was charged Monday with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, less than murder following a domestic incident with his wife Sunday. He was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond following an arraignment in 8th District Court in Kalamazoo and faces a charge punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
His arrest comes at a critical juncture in the criminal case against five men charged in federal court with plotting to kidnap Whitmer. Defense lawyers last week leveled a broad attack on the foundation of the high-profile case and suggested a second FBI agent was trying to sabotage defense teams.
Trask, 39, has worked for the FBI since 2011 and served as the FBI's public face in the Whitmer case, testifying in federal court about the investigation. He has worked on cases involving espionage, terrorism and domestic extremism investigations.
“It’s the last thing you want for a major case like this,” said Andrew Arena, former special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit office. “Any time you give the defense any ammunition it's not good.”
Details about the incident were not available. Trask did not respond to a message seeking comment Monday and there was no defense lawyer listed in court records.
FBI spokeswoman Mara Schneider said the bureau is cooperating with the prosecutor's office. Trask's job status was unclear Monday.
"In accordance with FBI policy, the incident is subject to internal review, and I cannot comment further at this time," she said in a statement.
That review would include an investigation by FBI internal affairs, Arena said.
“Depending on the severity, it could be a suspension until things are ironed out one way or another,” Arena said.
Aside from his FBI duties, Trask opened a gym at his rural property in Oshtemo Township near Kalamazoo and offers CrossFit training, according to social media posts and state business filings. He filed state paperwork for BCB Health & Wellness last year and maintains an active Instagram account showing him exercising, flexing and posing shirtless.
As part of his bond conditions, Trask is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
“If you can’t carry a weapon, then you’re not going to work as a street agent,” Arena said. “He’s going to be suspended or put on restricted duty.”
Trask was arrested one week after defense lawyers provided the clearest view of how they plan to attack the kidnapping plot case.
Court filings revealed a defense strategy that involves suppressing evidence, attacking the work of FBI agents and claiming FBI informants entrapped men accused in the conspiracy. Five men are awaiting an October trial in federal court in Grand Rapids, though one defendant has asked U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker to move the trial out of Michigan, arguing media conduct and coverage had "corrupted the potential trial atmosphere."
The arrest is the second potential problem in the case to emerge in recent months.
In March, prosecutors indicted an informant who sources say helped the FBI infiltrate the alleged conspiracy, a rare legal development. The indictment of Wisconsin resident Stephen Robeson after a prolonged period of cooperation suggests the relationship between Robeson and the FBI is destroyed and that prosecutors do not plan on using him at trial, legal experts said.
But defense lawyers can try to call him as a witness and attack Robeson's credibility.
Trask testified in federal court in January against Delaware resident Barry Croft, an accused plotter who is portrayed as the group’s bomb maker. Trask identified Croft as the national leader of the 3 Percenters, a small militia that participated in the Jan. 6 insurgence at the U.S. Capitol.
During the court hearing, Trask helped provide context about multiple undercover recordings that included Croft. At the time, prosecutors wanted Croft held without bond, saying he was a violent extremist.
Defense lawyers have portrayed their clients as tough talkers who were exercising their First Amendment rights who never carried out any kidnapping plot.
“Croft was saying he was granted permission from God to commit murder, correct?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler asked the FBI agent.
“Correct,” Trask said.
Trask would be expected to play a central role in an October trial of five men in federal court in Grand Rapids.
“In an investigation like this, you’re always trying to ensure you have more than one person who can testify about that piece of evidence,” Arena said. “So if something happens, you’ve got a backup.”
Defense lawyers have raised questions about the other lead investigator, FBI Special Agent Henrik Impola.
Impola came under defense scrutiny earlier this month after a lawyer for co-defendant Barry Croft suggested Impola was trying to sabotage defense teams.
Croft's lawyer Joshua Blanchard revealed the existence of a recording in which Impola discussed creating "disarray and chaos" for defense lawyers, whom he labeled "paid liars."
FBI agent who testified in Whitmer kidnap faces assault charge in Kalamazoo County
MLive
Jul 19, 2021
KALAMAZOO, MI – An FBI agent was charged with felony assault in Kalamazoo County Monday.
Richard Trask was arraigned July 19 in Kalamazoo County District Court on one felony count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, court records show.
Trask is the lead agent in the case against the people accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The alleged assault happened July 18, records show.
Trask, an Oshtemo Township resident, was granted a personal recognizance bond. He is not allowed to return to his home address as part of his bond conditions.
Trask is not allowed to possess a gun while out on bond, records show.
He requested a preliminary examination, which is not yet scheduled, court records show.
FBI Agent Richard Trask - Connection To Investigation Of Governor Whitmer Kidnapping Plot:
Kidnapping plot included leaving Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in boat in Lake Michigan, FBI says
MLive
Oct 13, 2020
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – An FBI special agent testified Tuesday, Oct. 13, that a leader of a group plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer considered leaving Whitmer in a boat in the middle of Lake Michigan.
Adam Fox, 37, identified by the FBI as a leader of a group, said the group considered taking Whitmer to the middle of the lake then disabling the boat’s motor, FBI special agent Richard Trask II testified.
Trask also revealed in his testimony that the group had talked about kidnapping Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. The alleged plan was in response to Northam’s lockdown orders over the coronavirus, Trask said. The defendants were allegedly upset by Whitmer’s response to COVID-19.
Fox, along with Ty Garbin, 24, Kaleb Franks, 26, Daniel Harris, 23, and Brandon Caserta, 32, are undergoing preliminary examinations and detention hearings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Berens.
She is expected to rule on bond requests this afternoon. The preliminary examination will resume on Friday.
Barry Croft, also described as a leader, has a hearing Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Delaware.
The attorneys for several defendants suggested that their clients were followers and didn’t play significant roles in the planning. They contended that their clients would not have followed through.
“Big talk?” Caserta’s attorney, Michael Darragh Hills, asked.
Trask said: “I can speculate, but that’s it.”
Defense attorneys also alleged their clients were pressured to go along with the plan by a man working for the government.
Seven others are facing anti-terrorism charges in state courts. They are accused of planning to storm the state Capitol and start a bloody civil war.
“The group talked about creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient. They discussed different ways of achieving this goal from peaceful endeavors to violent actions,” Trask wrote in a criminal complaint.
He said that the group identified state governments, including Michigan’s, that they believed violated the U.S. Constitution.
In a effort to increase their numbers, they were encouraged to share their message with neighbors. Fox reached out to a Michigan-based militia, the FBI agent said.
“Fox said he needed ’200′ men to storm the Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan, and take hostages, including the Governor,” Trask wrote.
“Fox explained they would try the Governor of Michigan for ‘treason,’ and he said they would execute the plan before the November 2020 elections.”
Fox invited others to a meeting at what was described as his business, Vac Shack Vacuums in Wyoming. Fox did not own the business. He worked there. The owner, Brian Titus, let him stay there because he had no place to live. Titus was angry that Fox used his business to allegedly plan the governor’s kidnapping.
On June 18, Fox, Garbin and a confidential source met in Lansing for a Second Amendment rally. Fox asked them to join forces in an attack on the Capitol, the FBI said.
Two days later, they met at Vac Shack. The FBI said participants had "access through a trap door hidden under a rug on the main floor to enter the basement. The owner disputed that characterization and said the floor opened to the stairs to the basement in the old building.
There was talk about assaulting police and destroying patrol cars with Molotov cocktails. On June 25, Fox did a live-stream video to a private Facebook group. He allegedly complained about the judicial system and government for closing gyms during the coronavirus crisis.
He called Whitmer a “tyrant … .”
Three days later, Fox, his girlfriend, Garbin, Franks and Caserta attended tactical training exercise at the Munith home of militia group member. Franks left early, the FBI said.
He later said he was “'not cool with offensive kidnapping,'” the FBI said.
But he allegedly continued with the plot.
Fox, Croft, Harbin, Franks, Caserta and others attended training exercises on July 10, 11, and 12 in Cambria, Wisconsin, the FBI said. Croft tried to make improvised explosive devices but they did not detonate as he hoped, the FBI said.
Franks allegedly had a rifle with a silencer.
A week later, several met in Ohio for a meeting. They discussed attacking Michigan State Police facilities, the FBI said. Garbin suggested shooting up the governor’s vacation home. He didn’t want to go to the Capitol.
They had a meeting at the Vac Shack in Wyoming on July 27, the FBI said.
Fox said the best chance for abducting Whitmer was when she was arriving at, or leaving, her vacation home or the governor’s official summer residence.
Fox allegedly described the plan as “Snatch and grab, man. Grab the … Governor. Just grab the … Because at that point, we do that, dude -- it’s over.”
He said they would take her to a secure location in Wisconsin for a “trial.”
In a July 27 encrypted group chat, which included Garbin, Harris, Franks and the confidential source, Fox allegedly asked how others felt about the kidnapping. No one responded.
In early September, several members in three vehicles conducted surveillance of Whitmer’s summer home in Northern Michigan.
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