Nearly three years in the past, amid the tumult of Covid-19 and a presidential marketing campaign, federal and state prosecutors outlined a sprawling right-wing terror plot to kidnap and probably kill Michigan’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, at her trip dwelling.

Since then, in courtrooms throughout Michigan, that investigation has led to guilty pleas, convictions at trial and two acquittals, in addition to introspection about what the plot says concerning the nation’s political discourse.

This week, as one other presidential election approaches, what is probably going the ultimate chapter in that case is unfolding in the identical rural county because the governor’s trip dwelling. Three males — Michael Null and William Null, who’re twin brothers, and Eric Molitor — are on trial on a cost of offering materials help for a terrorist act. Prosecutors stated the plot had been fueled by anti-government sentiment, militia exercise and anger over pandemic lockdowns.

“For the average person, it’s almost impossible to fathom how brazen and how bold and how dangerous these individuals were,” William Rollstin, a prosecutor, informed jurors in state courtroom on Wednesday. “These defendants decided to use force and violence to solve their problems.”

Prosecutors have accused the Null brothers and Mr. Molitor of touring to Antrim County, about 250 miles northwest of Detroit, to scout out the governor’s trip dwelling and assist put together for an assault. If convicted, they may every face greater than 20 years in jail. Unlike the lads convicted in federal courtroom, they don’t seem to be charged with planning to take part within the kidnapping itself.

Opening arguments on Wednesday echoed lots of the themes aired in two prior federal trials in Grand Rapids, in addition to one other in state court in Jackson, Mich.

Defense attorneys tried to downplay their shoppers’ actions. They instructed the lads have been minor gamers who didn’t know a lot concerning the plans to hurt Ms. Whitmer, have been egged on by F.B.I. informants and have been caught up in overheated pandemic-era politics.

“We have police protests — I mean, cities are burning,” Kristyna Nunzio, a lawyer for William Null, stated in courtroom, describing nationwide occasions in 2020. “People are scared during this time period. And it’s fair to keep that in your mind when you review all of the evidence.”

But prosecutors stated the defendants have been aiding the leaders of the plot, Barry Croft and Adam Fox. Federal jurors discovered that Mr. Croft and Mr. Fox had deliberate to kidnap Ms. Whitmer and blow up a bridge resulting in her dwelling to be able to disrupt the police response. Mr. Croft is serving a nearly 20-year prison sentence, and Mr. Fox is serving a 16-year sentence.

This trial is enjoying out in politically conservative Antrim County, the place Donald J. Trump obtained greater than 60 p.c of the vote in 2020 whilst Joseph R. Biden Jr. clinched Michigan. When Ms. Whitmer received re-election in convincing style final yr, her opponent carried Antrim County by a 14-point margin.

In opening arguments, Mr. Rollstin emphasised that the underlying terror plot sought not simply to hurt Ms. Whitmer but additionally to assault members of her safety element and different regulation enforcement officers who may reply to the scene.

“It’s much more than just the governor, ladies and gentlemen,” Mr. Rollstin stated.

William Barnett, a lawyer for Mr. Molitor, famous for the jury that Ms. Whitmer had blamed Mr. Trump’s rhetoric for the plot.

“It’s all politics, folks,” Mr. Barnett stated. “There’s something going on here. I don’t know what’s going on. But it looks like weaponization of the government.”