Prosecutors say bomb materials discovered in connection with Whitmer kidnapping plot

Recently discovered bomb materials have led federal prosecutors to request a 40-day extension to produce grand jury indictments in the kidnapping conspiracy case involving Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), according to the Detroit Free Press.

The new findings could result in new terror-related charges, the Press reported.

“Firearms and explosive device components were recently recovered, and must be analyzed to determine whether charges under the National Firearms Act, explosives or anti-terrorism statutes are warranted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said, according to the Press.

Adam Fox and five other men are being held in custody and are currently charged under criminal complaints for allegedly planning to kidnap the Michigan governor. Fox, the alleged ringleader, was arraigned in federal court in Kent County, Mich., the Press reported.

“The FBI has collected hundreds of hours of audio recordings from confidential human sources and undercover agents, and is still in the process of collating that material,” Kessler said in court filings, obtained by the Press.

The men were arrested ahead of all of the evidence being processed due to evidence that they planned to abduct Whitmer before the Nov. 3 presidential election, according to the Press.

“Because of the imminent nature of the threat, law enforcement was obliged to arrest the subjects before this evidence could be processed,” Kessler said, according to the Press.

The men, under law, are typically granted an indictment by a grand jury of their peers within 30 days of the original charge. Under new circumstances, the deadline could be pushed to Dec. 16, the Press reported.