Judge Queries Transfer of Whitmer Kidnapping Accomplices to Out-of-State Federal Prisons

Lawyers argue out-of-state transfers infringe on Paul Bellar's and Joe Morrison's right to appeal convictions due to inability to communicate effectively, raising questions about the legal authority and reason behind the decisions.

• Paul Bellar and Joe Morrison, who were convicted for secondary roles in the thwarted kidnap plot against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, have been transferred to federal prisons outside of Michigan, which their lawyers argue violates their right to appeal through Michigan courts due to communication challenges.
• The two men had been found guilty of providing material support for a terrorist act among other charges, despite not playing a direct role in the kidnapping conspiracy. They had participated in gun training with the leader of the plot, Adam Fox, and shared his aversion for Gov. Whitmer and other public officials.
• Michael Faraone, the lawyer for Morrison, describes the transfer as 'mind-boggling' and 'appalling'. Similarly, appellate lawyer Ron Ambrose highlighted difficulties in communicating with Bellar, with mailed trial transcripts being returned.
• Assistant Attorney General John Pallas suggests safety concerns motivated the transfer but did not provide specific reasons. Moreover, Judge Thomas Wilson has set a hearing for December 1 to further investigate the circumstances of the transfer, noting that it feels like they're 'flying blind' without additional information.
• The three men sentenced in relation to the plot, including Pete Musico, are held in federal prisons in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia respectively. According to Corrections Department spokesman Kyle Kaminski, the state pays the federal government around $100 a day per prisoner, adding up to approximately $110,000 a year for the three men.

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