Trump supporter is accused of trying to recruit others in plot to 'arrest' Ohio's Republican Governor Mike DeWine, try him for 'tyranny' and sentence him to 'exile or execution'
A pro-Trump political gadfly has been accused of attempting to recruit others in a plot to 'arrest' Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, and put him on trial for tyranny, with potential sentences of 'exile or execution'.
Renea Turner, an activist who has been protesting DeWine's coronavirus policies, was named as the ringleader of the plot by a Piqua resident who contacted police with concerns.
No charges have been filed in the case, and Turner told Cleveland.com that while she did discuss the 'idea' of placing the governor under house arrest, she denied that she discussed any specific plans to do so.
'He's a dingbat,' Turner said of the man who contacted police and claimed Turner had tried to enlist him in her plans, which he refused to participate in.
A pro-Trump political gadfly has been accused of recruiting others in a plot to 'arrest' Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (above), a Republican, and put him on trial for tyranny
Renea Turner, an activist who has been protesting DeWine's coronavirus policies, was named as the ringleader of the alleged plot. She is seen above with Vice President Mike Pence
On Thursday, Turner issued a 'declaration to alter and remove our current Governor Mike DeWine' on Facebook
On Thursday, Turner issued a 'declaration to alter and remove our current Governor Mike DeWine' on Facebook.
The lengthy declaration quotes liberally from the Declaration of Independence and includes a bill of particulars charging DeWine with, among other things, bribery, corruption, terrorism, and inducing panic.
After issuing her declaration, Turner swore herself in as governor, declaring that she was now the legal executive officer of the state of Ohio.
'I am going to protect Ohioans and all Americans, their Constitutional rights,' Turner said in her 'inaugural speech.'
In 2018, Turner ran as a write-in Republican candidate for Ohio governor, unsuccessfully challenging moderate DeWine on an America First platform backing President Donald Trump.
Turner told Cleveland.com that she believes DeWine should be removed and she should become governor in his place.
On Thursday, Turner swore herself in as governor, declaring that she was now the legal executive officer of the state of Ohio
Turner (center) is seen campaigning at ComicCon in 2018. 'I was Daenerys Queen of Dragons from Game of Thrones,' she explains
She said she believes DeWine should then be put under house arrest to 'protect' him.
Turner told the outlet that members of the Highway Patrol came to her house on Friday morning, after details of the alleged plot came to light.
One of the troopers 'said he was just there to check out my temperament and what my plans are,' she said.
The allegations emerged after state Rep. John Becker of Clermont County posted a video on Wednesday sharing the citizen's complaint.
Becker said the Piqua man, who asked not to be identified, had been contacted by the vigilante group on the phone on October 16, describing their alleged plans for DeWine.
'This hero, he did what a good citizen should do, he went to his local police department,' Becker said. 'And I would imagine they reached out to the Highway Patrol.'
The alleged plot follows the arrest of 13 men on charges that they plotted to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, over outrage about her coronavirus lockdown policies.
The Whitmer plot, which allegedly stemmed from a meeting in suburban Columbus last June, has no known connection to the alleged plan to arrest DeWine.
DeWine, speaking with reporters Friday, said he wasn't aware of any plan to place him under unofficial arrest.
'But look, we have people in every state who believe that they can take the law into their own hands,' the governor said.
'We have people who believe the government's illegitimate and they have every right to go and basically overthrow the government in one form or the other. I think it's incumbent upon all of us to denounce that and say that's wrong,' he said.
Turner's campaign materials from 2018 indicate her strong support for Trump. 'USA has Trump, OHIO has Turner,' her Facebook page reads. 'Turner is Trump in a Dress!'
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