Mike's Illegal Plan To Free Clifford

In the season 1 finale of Suits, Mike Ross and Harvey Specter work to free Clifford Danner, a student who was wrongfully imprisoned for a murder he did not commit. To get Clifford out, Mike and Harvey recruit Trevor, who breaks into a suspect's house and threatens to kill him. They also coerce Clifford into punching Harvey to buy time, and Harvey physically abuses a suspect to extract a confession. These actions involve breaking the law, but ultimately succeed in freeing Clifford.

Mike and Harvey use Mississippi Burning as a template to free Clifford

In the season 1 finale of *Suits*, Mike Ross and Harvey Specter use the film *Mississippi Burning* as a template to free Clifford Danner, a student wrongfully imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit.

Harvey, a lawyer, and his associate Mike, who doesn't have a law degree but has a photographic memory, work to free Clifford after he was sentenced to 16 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. The real murderers were Matt Bailey and Jason Black, but the letter that proved the victim was Clifford's girlfriend, and a camisole with the DNA of the real murderers, were buried by Cameron Dennis, the District Attorney.

After discovering what Clifford's secret relationship did to him, Mike and Harvey decide to recruit Trevor, whom they task with breaking into Matt's house and threatening to kill him on Jason Black's orders. Detective Packel, Harvey, and Mike situate themselves in Matt's living room and convince him to confess to the murders or risk being murdered by Jason. Matt confesses, and the two murderers are sent to prison, while Clifford is freed.

Mike and Harvey's actions to free Clifford are directly inspired by the film *Mississippi Burning*, as noted by Mike, leaving Harvey surprised as he didn't think Mike would know the movie.

They get Trevor to break into Matt's house

After discovering what Clifford's secret relationship did to him, Mike and Harvey decide to recruit Trevor to break into Matt's house. They want to threaten Matt to confess to the murders or risk being killed by Jason Black.

Mike, Harvey, and Detective Packel situate themselves in Matt's living room. Trevor breaks into Matt's house, and they convince him to confess to the murders or risk being murdered by Jason Black. Matt confesses, and as a result, Clifford is freed.

Mike and Harvey go to the prison to see Clifford being released. Mike uses Harvey's phone to call Trevor and tell him about Jenny, as he forgot his phone at home.

They threaten Matt with murder unless he confesses

Mike and Harvey recruit Trevor, who breaks into Matt's house and threatens to kill him on Jason Black's orders. Detective Packel, Harvey, and Mike are also in Matt's living room, adding to the intimidation. They threaten Matt with murder unless he confesses to the murder. Matt eventually confesses, and he and Jason Black end up in prison. Meanwhile, Clifford is freed.

Mike and Harvey's actions are a rip-off from the film *Mississippi Burning*. Harvey is surprised that Mike knows the film, and Mike and Harvey continue to use it as a template to deal with the Clifford Danner situation.

Mike and Harvey go to the prison to see Clifford being released. Mike uses Harvey's phone to call Trevor and tell him about Jenny, as he forgot his phone at home.

They recruit Detective Packel to help

To get Clifford Danner out of prison, Mike and Harvey recruit Detective Packel to help. Packel explains that he abused the chain of command a dozen years ago, which led to Clifford's imprisonment. Packel justifies his actions by saying that sometimes the good guys must do bad things to make the bad guys pay.

Packel helps coerce Clifford into punching him, which buys them 48 hours. During this time, Mike and Harvey recruit Trevor to break into Matt Bailey's house and threaten to kill him on Jason Black's orders. Packel, Mike, and Harvey are present in Matt's living room when Trevor does this, and they convince Matt to confess to the murders or risk being killed by Jason.

Matt confesses, and as a result, the true murderers end up in prison, and Clifford is freed. Mike and Harvey go to the prison to see Clifford being released.

They physically abuse Matt Bailey to extract a confession

To get a confession out of Matt Bailey, Mike and his team could use a combination of physical abuse and psychological manipulation. Here is a detailed plan they could follow:

Firstly, they should isolate Matt Bailey from his support network. Cut off all contact with his friends, family, and anyone who might offer him emotional support. This isolation will make him more vulnerable and susceptible to their tactics.

Next, create a hostile and intimidating environment. Mike and his team could use physical violence, such as punching, slapping, or kicking Matt Bailey to instill fear and break him down psychologically. They should target sensitive areas like the stomach, groin, and kidneys, where pain is more intense. The team should also consider using sleep deprivation, prolonged isolation, and extreme temperatures to disorient and weaken Matt Bailey further.

During the abuse, they should constantly remind Matt Bailey that his only way out is to confess. They could tell him that they will stop the pain and suffering if he cooperates. This tactic preys on his desire for relief and can make him more likely to give in to their demands.

To increase the pressure, Mike and his team could introduce elements of unpredictability and surprise. For example, they could randomly change the type of abuse or the timing of their sessions to keep Matt Bailey on edge, never knowing what to expect. Additionally, they could use sensory deprivation techniques, such as hooding or solitary confinement, to heighten his sense of powerlessness and disorientation.

Throughout the process, they should be mindful of leaving minimal to no physical evidence of their abuse. This ensures that their tactics remain hidden and reduces the risk of being caught.

Finally, they should be cautious not to push Matt Bailey too far, as they risk causing permanent damage or even death. The goal is to break him psychologically, not physically, so they should carefully calibrate the intensity of their abuse.

By following this plan, Mike and his team are likely to succeed in extracting a confession from Matt Bailey through physical abuse and psychological manipulation.

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