Prosecutors allege that a man confessed to plotting to falsely incriminate a migrant, who was previously accused of threatening Trump.
In a startling revelation, a Wisconsin resident, Demetric Scott, has been indicted for allegedly framing an undocumented migrant, Ramon Morales-Reyes, who was accused of threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump in an attempt to ensnare the immigrant in deportation proceedings.
As per the Accountability Division of Wisconsin, Scott acknowledged to law enforcement that he penned the incriminating letters and envelopes himself, with "Freedom" being the driving force behind his actions.[3] Scott's legal counsel has yet to comment on the matter, and a court hearing has been scheduled for later today.
The arrest of Morales-Reyes, originally initiated by the questionable letters, is set to take place tomorrow in a deportation hearing, following his detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).[1] The defense attorney for Morales-Reyes, Cain Oulahan, informs CNN that the alleged confession of Scott might offer a slight advantage in Morales-Reyes' deportation case, as it corroborates his assertion of non-violence towards the community.[1]
Trump allies, including the current Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, had lauded the arrest of Morales-Reyes, assailing him for allegedly making threats against the President, despite the ongoing inquiry into the possibility of him being set up.[1] Despite the new developments, Noem and the Department of Homeland Security have yet to retract or update their initial statement on the issue, and the press release stating the on-going investigation remains on the department's website.[1]
The DHS responded to CNN's request for an update with a repetition of the initial statement issued at the announcement of the case, which outlines that the probe into the threat remains active, and throughout the investigation, Morales-Reyes was found to be in the country illegally and to have a criminal background.[1] Scott is due to stand trial for the assault and robbery charges against him in July, but Morales-Reyes' attorneys are concerned that if their client is deported before the trial, it could potentially lead to the dissolution of the case.[1]
According to the prosecution, Scott collaborated with others to send letters that falsely implicated Morales-Reyes in making threats against Trump or ICE agents.[4] Phone conversations previously reported by CNN, along with jail records, reveal Scott's solicitation for assistance in sending letters and tracking down addresses for the local ICE office and Attorney General Pam Bondi.[4]
During a search of Scott's jail cell, investigators discovered a blue pen, matching the color of ink used in the letters, as well as a note inquiring about the attorney general's address and an envelope containing the local ICE office's address and contact information.[4] Following an interview with police investigators on Friday, Scott reportedly contacted his mother and confessed to his actions.[4] He was quoted as saying, "The detective was like, 'Well, whatever your plan was, it worked cause he got deported now because we had to go pick him up,'" referring to Morales-Reyes.[4]
[1] CNN, Exclusive: Kristi Noem said a migrant threatened to kill Trump. Investigators think he was set up, https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/17/us/kristi-noem-migrant-threat-donald-trump/index.html[2] Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Man charged in federal court with association in scam to accuse an immigrant of threatening the President: federal prosecutors, https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2023/05/17/man-charged-federal-court-association-scam-accuse-immigrant-threat-president-federal-prosecutors/71142839007/[3] United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Demetric Scott Case Brief, https://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/case_media/view_document?sequence=3&docket=23cr00120_1[4] New York Times, Wisconsin Man Charged With Framing Migrant on Federal Charges, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/us/immigrant-threat-trump-kristi-noem.html
The revelation that Demetric Scott, the Wisconsin resident, wrote the incriminating letters implicating Ramon Morales-Reyes in threatening President Donald Trump raises questions in the general-news spectrum, especially given the ongoing investigation. Moreover, in the realm of crime-and-justice, the allegations against Scott could potentially impact the trial of his own assault and robbery charges scheduled for July, as well as the deportation case of Morales-Reyes.
