A Mexican national arrested for threatening to kill President Donald Trump may not have written the letter that led to his arrest, law enforcement sources told The New York Post. Ramon Morales Reyes, 54, was taken into custody on May 21 in Wisconsin after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer received a handwritten note threatening Trump’s life.
The arrest came after ICE received a note that read, in part, “We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans… I think it is time Donald J. Trump gets what he has coming to him.”
Letter references shooting Trump in the head at ‘one of his big rallies’
Handwriting analysis may exonerate Reyes
Now, sources say a handwriting analysis shows Reyes didn’t write the letter. Investigators believe someone else, possibly an inmate already behind bars, may have written the threat to set Reyes up. Investigators now reportedly believe the motive may be tied to a crime in which Reyes was a victim and that the letter may have been faked to prevent him from testifying against the individual.
“The investigation into the threat is ongoing,” a senior Department of Homeland Security official told the Post. “Over the course of the investigation, this individual was determined to be in the country illegally and that he had a criminal record. He will remain in custody.”
What we know about Reyes
DHS said Reyes entered the U.S. illegally at least nine times between 1998 and 2005. He also has prior arrests on his record, including a felony hit-and-run, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier, according to DHS.
He is currently being held in ICE custody in Wisconsin, awaiting deportation.
DHS Secretary calls for rhetoric cooldown
In the Wednesday, May 28 press release, Noem released the letter threatening Trump’s life and called for a tone down in political rhetoric.
“All politicians and members of the media should take notice of these repeated attempts on President Trump’s life and tone down their rhetoric,” Noem said. “I will continue to take all measures necessary to ensure the protection of President Trump.”
