If Jon Ritzheimer travels to Michigan trying to arrest Sen. Debbie Stabenow for treason because of her support for the Iran nuclear deal, he may find a line of volunteer militia men guarding the Michigan Democrat.  

“This is wrong. It sounds like mob rule to me,” said Lou Vondette, of the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia, one of the oldest active militias in the state. “We have no idea what this guy has on his mind,” Vondette said in a phone interview. The threats sound “just as terrifying to [us], as to anyone reading the story.” In a threatening letter making waves on the Web, Ritzheimer alleges he has “strong ties with the Michigan State Militia” and plans to target Stabenow. “I have fellow marines in the Michigan militia, who I’ve deployed with,” Ritzheimer said in a video related to the plot. Vondette told CQ Roll Call his group had been communicating back and forth with eight other militia groups in the state since the news surfaced, including The Three Percenters, Michigan Home Guard, Black Creek Volunteers, West Michigan Sentinels, Michigan Militia Corps Wolverines, Genesee County Volunteer Militia, Down River Militia, and the Superior Unorganized Michigan Militia.  

“We know of no militia in Michigan that is participating in these actions. Also, we do not appreciate armed out-of-state groups invading Michigan and throwing around the ‘Michigan Militia’ name as participants,” Vondette stated.  

Vondette rejects the Iran nuclear agreement, but disavowed the plot to arrest Stabenow for treason based on her support as “stupidity.”  

“No, I totally disagree with her,” he said, “but we have a process by which we do that and it’s called elections.” He said the militia group would “stand in line between them if we have to.”  

Capitol Police are working with local Michigan law enforcement on the matter.

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