BUFFALO (WBEN) - Pascale Ferrier, the suspect who allegedly mailed a package containing ricin to the White House and was apprehended at the Peace Bridge over the weekend, made her initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon, as she now faces a charge of threatening the president.
A not guilty plea has been entered on behalf of Ferrier by Magistrate Judge Kenneth Schroeder, who also ordered she be detained at least until her next court appearance on September 28, as the prosecution labeled Ferrier a flight risk.
Federal prosecutors say Pascale Ferrier included a threatening letter to President Trump, telling him to "give up and remove your application for this election." Prosecutors say that letter goes on to say "If it doesn't work, I'll find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when I'll be able to come! Enjoy!"
The envelope containing the toxic substance and the threatening letter was addressed to the White House but intercepted at a mail sorting facility on Friday. The package, postmarked from Canada, included a letter in which she referred to Trump as "The Ugly Tyrant Clown" and directed him to "give up and remove your application for this election," according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case.
Ferrier appeared in court briefly Tuesday and U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr.
entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf. Ferrier, who wore a tan jail jumpsuit, had her hands in cuffs and a chain around her waist. A blue mask covered much of her face as she spoke only briefly to answer the judge's questions.
Through an interpreter and her attorney, she also asked for an identity hearing — which would compel the government to prove that she is indeed the person for whom the arrest warrant was issued — and a probable cause hearing for the government to prove there is sufficient cause to proceed in the case. The judge ordered her held without bail.
Her attorney, Fonda Kubiak, said Ferrier was exercising her rights to those hearings, which were scheduled for Monday.
"She has a presumption of innocence and that'll be pursued further after today," Kubiak said outside the courthouse.
During the investigation, the FBI discovered that six additional similar letters appeared to have been received in Texas in September and also had stamps indicating that they'd been mailed from Canada, according to court papers.
Those letters "contained similar language" to the letter that was sent to Trump and were sent to people affiliated with facilities where Ferrier had been jailed in 2019.
Investigators also matched Ferrier's fingerprints from four of the letters, the complaint said.
In Facebook and Twitter posts in September, Ferrier, 53, also wrote "#killTrump" and used similar wording as she did in the letter, calling him an "Ugly Clown Tyrant," according to the document.
When she was arrested Sunday while trying to enter a border crossing in Buffalo, Ferrier told Customs and Border Patrol agents that she was "wanted by the FBI for the ricin letters," the complaint said. Officers found a loaded gun in her waistband and said she was also carrying a knife.
Full Coverage: Canada
Ferrier was booked into the Hidalgo County jail in March of 2019 on two charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and one charge of tampering with government records, according to online jail records. Pascale is listed as living in Quebec, and was released in May of last year. The records state the charges against her were ordered dismissed.
Ferrier immigrated to Canada from France and became a Canadian citizen in 2015, according to her Facebook profile.
Justin Taylor, a cousin in Texas, confirmed she was originally from France. He said she has extended family in Texas and was looking at possibly moving there after driving to Texas in her RV. Her called her arrest very surprising. "A very nice lady, very warm and kind," Taylor said.
Below, a statement attributed to CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan:
"On Sunday afternoon at the Peace Bridge port of entry in Buffalo, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers encountered a driver who stopped her vehicle in the pre-primary area, and did not pull forward to report for inspection. Officers responded to the vehicle and engaged the driver. The individual, identified as Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, told officers she was wanted by the FBI for mailing envelopes with ricin to the White House and other locations. Upon a subsequent search, officers discovered a gun, knife and ammunition. CBP officers immediately disarmed Ferrier, secured the weapons, arrested her, and coordinated with the FBI for further investigation. The officers' quick action should be commended, and exemplifies what we do every day on the frontline of our nation's borders. CBP remains committed to stopping those who come to this country with the intent to do harm, and we will continue to work with the FBI and Department of Justice on this ongoing investigation."
