A Canadian woman was sentenced on Thursday in Washington to nearly 22 years in prison for mailing a threatening letter that contained the poison ricin to the former President Donald Trump at the White House.
Pascale Ferrier, a 56-year-old French immigrant, had previously pleaded guilty to violating biological weapons prohibitions by sending letters containing ricin to Trump and police officials in Texas. Despite Ferrier’s defense attorney highlighting her lack of prior criminal record and intelligence, the court sentenced her based on the severity of her actions.
In September 2020, prosecutors revealed that Ferrier had created the ricin at her home in Quebec and sent the deadly poison, derived from processing castor beans, to Trump. The accompanying letter referred to him as “The Ugly Tyrant Clown” and threatened the use of other poisons or a firearm in a future attempt. Fortunately, the letter was intercepted at a mail sorting facility before reaching the White House.
Ferrier’s arrest occurred when she attempted to enter a border crossing in Buffalo, N.Y., armed with a gun, knife, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Additionally, investigators discovered eight similar letters addressed to law enforcement officials responsible for the Texas jail where Ferrier had previously been held.
During her trial, Ferrier delivered a lengthy speech expressing her frustration with perceived issues of unfairness, abuses of power, and “stupid rules.” She described herself as a “peaceful and genuinely kind person” but labeled herself as an activist rather than a terrorist. While she showed little remorse, she stated her desire to find peaceful means to achieve her goals.
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich imposed a 262-month prison sentence as outlined in the plea agreement. This sentence included deportation upon release and a lifetime of supervised release if Ferrier were to return to the country. Judge Friedrich acknowledged Ferrier’s educational pursuits while incarcerated but emphasized the disparity between her actions and her aspirations. She firmly discouraged any continuation of Ferrier’s chosen path.
Prosecutor Michael Friedman welcomed the sentence, deeming it an appropriate and stern punishment that underlines the unacceptability of politically motivated violence. He emphasized that there should be no tolerance for threats towards public officials or acts that target our public servants.
Overall, the court’s decision sends a clear message against such actions and reinforces the importance of upholding the rule of law and the safety of public officials.
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