Woman Who Sent Trump Poisoned Letters Jailed For 22 Years

A woman has been sentenced to nearly 22 years, or 262 months, in prison for sending threatening letters containing homemade ricin poison to then-President Donald Trump at the White House in 2020, according to the US Justice Department.

Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, 56, who holds dual citizenship in Canada and France, admitted guilt for violating biological weapons laws earlier this year. She had sent highly toxic, ricin-filled letters not only to Trump but also to eight Texas state law enforcement officials. The Justice Department revealed that Ferrier's motive stemmed from her 10-week detention in Texas in 2019, for which she believed the officers were responsible. Moreover, she had used Twitter to make a disturbing statement, suggesting violence against Trump.

The envelope containing toxic ricin, addressed to Trump, was intercepted in September 2020 at a White House mail sorting facility. US Postal Service personnel flagged it as suspicious and contacted the FBI. Ferrier was subsequently arrested two days after mailing the letter. Prosecutors revealed that Ferrier had produced the lethal ricin poison at her residence in Quebec, Canada, using castor beans.

What Did The Court Say?

In response to the sentencing, prosecutor Michael Friedman noted that the punishment was fittingly severe, serving as a strong message. Ferrier's defence attorney, Eugene Ohm, highlighted her lack of prior criminal record and her impressive achievements, including a master's degree in engineering and raising two children as a single parent.

In September 2020, prosecutors revealed that Ferrier crafted ricin and sent it to Trump along with a letter in which he was referred to as "The Ugly Tyrant Clown." The letter contained lines such as, "If it doesn’t work, I’ll find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun," and advised Trump to "give up and remove your application for this election."

During her address to the judge, Ferrier spoke at length about her self-perception as a "peaceful and genuinely kind person." She acknowledged her anger towards issues like unfairness, abuses of power, and what she termed "stupid rules." Reflecting on her past, she expressed a sense of regret for not having done more to uphold her values when her children were young. She asserted her identity as an "activist" rather than a "terrorist," emphasising her desire for peaceful methods to achieve her objectives.

US District Judge Dabney Friedrich imposed the 262-month sentence as stipulated in the plea agreement between Ferrier and prosecutors. The agreement also mandates Ferrier's expulsion from the country upon her release from incarceration and subjects her to lifelong supervised release should she ever return to the US.

The judge observed a notable contrast between the Canadian grandmother, who pursued an additional degree while in prison, and the criminal acts Ferrier admitted to. The judge disputed Ferrier's portrayal of her actions as those of an activist, remarking, "That isn’t really activism.I hope you have no desire to continue on this path."

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