Lauren Walinski
Ricin is a deadly poison derived from castor beans which, once ingested, injected, or inhaled, causes the body to stop making proteins. Once it is in the body, it takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days to work, depending on the concentration and dosage. A lethal dose of purified ricin powder is only the size of a few grains of table salt. This is what it seems William Clyde Allen III had intended to send to the Pentagon and to the White House.
The Pentagon received two envelopes containing a strange substance, and the White House a third. This substance was later revealed through FBI testing to be a concoction made of castor beans. While not technically ricin, it could still be dangerous to ingest.
The White House envelope was addressed to President Trump. The two envelopes to the Pentagon had been addressed to Jim Mattis, the Defense Secretary, and Adm. John Richardson, chief of the US Navy. The would-be assassin, Allen, served in the Navy for four years.
Allen was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, after his envelopes were intercepted by the Pentagon and White House mailing facilities. He has been indicted on seven counts.
