A Georgia militia leader dismissed the arrests of 13 men accused of plotting to kidnap the governor of Michigan as an election-year diversion.

In a YouTube video to supporters Thursday, Georgia Security Force III% leader Chris Hill said labeling those arrested in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as militia members was a scare tactic.

“They are using us. They are lumping us into this radical group to scare people into the voting booths to vote for Joe Biden,” Hill said in the 13-minute video. “We’re used as fodder.”

Hill’s far-right group is associated with the broader patriot movement. During the social and political unrest this year, Hill has urged his followers to prepare for a coming “boogaloo,” militia slang for a second civil war. He also has threatened to use his militia to protect President Donald Trump from Democrats.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified in Congress last month that “racially motivated violent extremism” and “militia types” as potential domestic terrorism threats.

During the video Thursday Hill described his group as defensive and “constitutional.”

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres