AG Nessel issued a statement following the Michigan Court of Appeals unanimously reversing the conviction of Joseph Morrison, a Munith man convicted in 2022 of providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership, and felony firearm for his role in the plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Morrison was sentenced to 4-20 years’ incarceration in December of 2022 alongside other members of the militia group Wolverine Watchmen. The Court of Appeals ruled today to overturn his convictions based upon their finding that, for the purposes of charging material support for terrorist acts, kidnapping is not a violent felony. 

“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. 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. The fact that the ruling comes a mere two days following the argument belies the eagerness to which the Court sought a means to justify this end.” -AG Nessel