[Blitzer:] More breaking news we're following. The White House now responding to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's remarks, calling out President Trump for his refusal to condemn white supremacists and hate groups. The White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, is saying, Governor Whitmer is sowing division. This comes after authority say they thwarted an alleged militia plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. CNN Justice Correspondent, Jessica Schneider reports on the dramatic details of the investigation.
[Gov. Gretchen Whitmer:] I knew this job would be hard. But I'll be honest, I never could have imagined anything like this.
[Jessica Schneider, Cnn Justice Correspondent:] Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaking out against the alleged plot to kidnap her.
[Whitmer:] You don't have to agree with me, but I do ask one thing, never forget that we are all in this together.
[Schneider:] Today, the FBI charging six men in the conspiracy saying the group plotted to kidnap the governor from her vacation home before the election. Authorities became aware of the scheme as they monitored social media and discovered a group of men based in Michigan mapping out how to vitally overthrow government officials and target law enforcement.
[Andrew Birge, U.s. Attorney For The Western District Of Michigan:] They alleged conspirators used operational security measures, including communicating by encrypted messaging platforms and used code words and phrases and an attempting to avoid detection by law enforcement.
[Schneider:] Law enforcement was able to track the group by using informants and undercover agents who recorded the men when they visited the governor's vacation home two times.
[Birge:] Fox and Croft, in particular, according to the complaint, discussed detonating exploding devices to divert police from the area of the home. And Fox even inspected the underside of a Michigan highway bridge for places to seat an explosive. The complaint further alleges that Fox purchased a taser for use in the kidnapping and that the group successfully detonated an improvised explosive device wrapped with shrapnel to test its anti-personnel capabilities.
[Schneider:] State officials announcing separate terrorism charges against seven other men linked to a militia group, saying they planned to instigate civil war, target police officers and storm the capitol building in Lansing, taking hostages, including Governor Whitmer.
[Matthew Schneider, U.s. Attorney For The Eastern District Of Michigan:] All of us in Michigan can disagree about politics, but those disagreements should never, ever amount to violence.
[Schneider:] Whitmer has been a frequent target of President Trump over her coronavirus response, Trump saying this at a rally in her state last month.
[Donald Trump, U.s. President:] You'd be doing even better if you had a governor that knew what the hell she was doing. You have got to open up the state.
[Schneider:] And tweeting, liberate Michigan, in April. Protesters and militia, some armed, have even gathered at the state capitol calling for an end to Whitmer's stay-at-home order. The governor today blaming Trump for escalating the rhetoric.
[Whitmer:] Stand back and stand by. Hate groups heard the president's words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry, as a call to action. When our leaders speak, their words matter.
[Schneider:] And Republicans around Michigan have rallied around and in support of Governor Whitmer. Of course, she's a Democrat. But White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany saying that Whitmer's comments are divisive, her allegations outlandish. Kayleigh McEnany putting it this way today, saying, President Trump has continually condemned white supremacists and all forms of hate. But, Wolf, Kayleigh McEnany leaving out that it did take President Trump two days after that last debate to come out and actually condemn white supremacists. Wolf?
[Blitzer:] All right. Jessica, thank you, Jessica Schneider reporting. A quick programming note, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will be one of the guests later today on Erin Burnett Outfront. That's right at the top of the hour right after The Situation Room. Joining us now, the mayor of Atlanta, Kesha Lance Bottoms. Mayor Bottoms, thank you so much for joining us. You just heard Governor Whitmer say, hate groups hear President Trump's words as a call to action. How alarming is this news out of Michigan about this foiled plot to you?
[Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms:] It's very alarming, Wolf, and the governor very eloquently summed up where we are. This is a president who is feeding into the hatred. And this is a democracy. We often disagree on our politics and our policy, but this is not how we deal with those who we disagree with. The most powerful vote the most powerful weapon that we have is our right to vote. And the thought that someone would threaten the governor's life and based upon really what's being inflamed by this president really speaks to where we are in this country and the danger of this president.
[Blitzer:] Let's get to the pandemic right now, which seems to be escalating in so many parts of the country. We're learning at the end of May, the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, actually hosted an indoor wedding in Atlanta, your city, with around 70 guests flouting local coronavirus guidelines. What's your response to a member of the Trump administration traveling to your city and apparently, at least according to these reports, ignoring the public health guidelines?
[Bottoms:] Just really making a mockery of this pandemic and the people who are getting sick and the people who are dying. And it's as simple as wearing a mask. It's a complete disregard for where we are with COVID-19, no respect or regard for the people who work in the hotel, the people who are serving them their food that evening. These are people who can take this home to their families and die. And it's unfortunate, and it is the reason that so many people across this country aren't taking this virus seriously. I understand that people have weddings and they want to have celebrations, but as far as I know, there were no masks worn. It was a complete disregard of what we've asked people to do in our city and in our state at that time.
[Blitzer:] Amidst all of this, Mayor, President Trump has now launched a series of brutal attacks against the vice presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, following last night's debate. I want you to listen to what he said on Fox Business earlier today.
[Trump:] She was terrible. She was I don't think you could get worse and totally unlikable, and she is. She's a communist. And this monster that was on stage with Mike Pence
[Blitzer:] He repeatedly called her a communist. He repeatedly called her a monster. What do you make of that?
[Bottoms:] He's a silly man with silly words. And it is unfortunate that he would resort to name-calling. That's something that I can't even say my kids would do. It is he's made a mockery of the presidency. He is disrespecting her as a sitting senator. He is disrespecting her as a woman. And if this is the best that he has to offer just not one week removed from being on his death bed, then God help us all.
[Blitzer:] Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta, thank you so much for joining us.
[Bottoms:] Thank you.
[Blitzer:] Just ahead, we're learning that another member of the White House press corps, yet another member, has tested positive for the coronavirus. We'll be right back.