Foiled: Poisoners who posted ricin to Donald Trump
A PACKAGE addressed to President Trump containing the deadly poison ricin was discovered earlier this week, it was reported last night.
Two tests were carried out on the white powder to confirm it was the highly toxic compound that has been used in terror plots in the past.
All mail for the White House is sorted and screened at a secure offsite facility before being forwarded.
Navy veteran William Clyde Allen III, from Utah, was arrested and charged with sending letters containing ricin to Mr Trump and other government officials in October 2018.
The latest revelation came as Mr Trump is expected to start proceedings for a Republican appointment to the Supreme Court in days to boost his bid for re-election in November.
The death of respected Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday is seen as an opportunity for the US president as he seeks a second term in office.
Trump, 74, paid tribute to Justice Ginsburg yesterday, calling her “a titan of the law, renowned for her brilliant mind, who demonstrated one can disagree without being disagreeable”.
His presidential rival Joe Biden said
“she stood for all of us” as tributes poured in for only the second woman to be appointed to the Court, where she served for 27 years. Justice Ginsburg, who died from pancreatic cancer aged 87, was an icon for the Left for her progressive agenda on divisive social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriages, but she was also revered by the Right.
Before her death she made it known she wanted her replacement chosen after the presidential election. But Trump is expected to seek to appoint his chosen replacement as soon as possible, to change the balance of America’s highest court to six Republicans and just three Democrats.
This has caused a political storm just six weeks before the election, with Democrat Biden, 77, saying the Republicans should respect the final wish of Justice Ginsburg.
Barack Obama planned to appoint Merrick Garland to the court after Justice Antonin Scalia died in 2016, but Republicans insisted on waiting until a new president took over.
Senate majority leader Mitch Mcconnell said at the time: “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.” Now Mcconnell has pledged to push through a nomination before November, echoed by Trump.
High on the list is appeal court judge and mother-of-seven Amy Coney Barrett. The former law professor, who is only 48 and clerked for Scalia, is known for her religious faith.