Two Boston brothers charged with urinating on and beating a homeless Mexican man in an attack allegedly inspired by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump's views on immigrants agreed on Thursday to remain in custody until their trial in October.
The brothers, 38-year-old Scott Leader and 30-year-old Steve Leader, were arrested last month and charged with assault and battery for the purpose of intimidation because of national origin.
Through their attorneys, Gary McGillivray and John Flanagan, the pair agreed to waive a hearing that could have determined whether they would be released on bail ahead of trial.
The judge set an Oct. 1 trial date.
The men told police they targeted their 58-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, because they believed he was an illegal immigrant. According to a police report, they told officers, "Donald Trump was right, all these illegals need to be deported."
Trump, the New York property developer and former reality TV personality, has jumped to the front of the pack of candidates seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, driven in part by promises to deport all illegal immigrants and order the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.
Trump, who initially described the attack as an outcome of passionate views on immigration, called it "terrible" on Twitter on Friday.
One of the brothers went on to threaten police officers, saying from his cell that he would attack them if he were not locked up.
(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Will Dunham)