An anonymous person mailed death threats to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state employees in an effort to collect $2 million in Bitcoin, Michigan State Police said.
The letters said state employees would die unless the governor transferred over $2 million in cryptocurrency by Jan. 25.
Michigan State Police spokesperson Shanon Banner said Sunday that investigators do not believe the threats were credible and that no arrests have been made in the incidents, first reported Saturday by WXYZ-TV (Channel 7).
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“The Michigan State Police takes very seriously any threats made against elected officials or others,” Banner said in an email to the Free Press Sunday. “Upon being notified of this letter by the Executive Office in mid-December, we looked into it. Part of that review included consulting with the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center. Ultimately, it was determined not to be a credible threat.”
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According to WXYZ, the letters were traced back to Indiana.
When reached for comment by the Free Press, the governor’s office directed inquires to the Michigan State Police.
News about the threat came days after President Donald Trump’s supporters breached the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, and months after authorities foiled an alleged plot to kidnap and kill Whitmer. Several men are currently in custody, and facing state and federal charges.
On Monday, the Michigan State Capitol Commission is set to convene a special session to discuss banning the open carry of firearms at the state Capitol.
Contact Slone Terranella at STerranella@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @SloneTerranella.
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