On September 15, 2023, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was accused of trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The incident happened at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
According to federal prosecutors, Routh set up what appeared to be a sniper’s position, and he was spotted by a Secret Service agent only 100 feet away from where Trump was golfing.
After the agents saw Routh, they fired a shot, but Routh fled the scene. Despite this, he was later caught by law enforcement.
In addition to this, several pieces of evidence showed that Routh had planned the assassination.
One of the most important pieces was his letter to “The World.” In this letter, Routh openly admitted that he tried to assassinate Trump, saying, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you.”
Moreover, he even offered $150,000 to anyone who could complete the assassination. The letter also mentioned his frustrations with Trump’s foreign policy decisions, especially how he handled relations with Iran.
Furthermore, the investigation uncovered even more troubling evidence. Months before the incident, Routh had left a box with someone he knew, which contained items such as ammunition, metal pipes, phones, and letters.
After the assassination attempt became known, this person opened the box, adding to the evidence against Routh.
Additionally, investigators found Routh’s fingerprint on tape used to attach a scope to the rifle near the golf course, which made the case against him stronger.
During the court hearing, prosecutors presented further details about Routh’s actions. They explained that he had carefully chosen a position near the golf course, which was along a fence, and gave him a clear shot at Trump.
Routh spent about 12 hours in this position, as shown by data collected from his cell phone. His setup was described as very strategic, and prosecutors said he had around 12 to 15 minutes to act before Trump reached the 6th hole, where Routh was hiding.
On the other hand, Routh’s defense team argued that the way the rifle scope was attached with tape suggested that Routh was not a skilled assassin.
However, the judge did not accept this argument and said that the skill level didn’t change the seriousness of the situation.
In addition, more evidence showed that Routh had been following Trump for several weeks before the incident. He kept a handwritten list of dates and places where Trump was scheduled to appear.
On top of that, he had a Google search on his phone for directions from West Palm Beach to Mexico, which prosecutors believed showed that Routh was planning to escape after the assassination.
Cell phone records confirmed that Routh had been near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and the golf course several times between mid-August and September 15, the day he was arrested.
And Routh’s background raised even more concerns. He had recently been to Ukraine, where he unsuccessfully tried to join the fight against Russia.
Furthermore, in online posts, Routh expressed disappointment with Trump, even though he had voted for him in 2016.
In fact, he even went so far as to encourage Iran to assassinate Trump in a self-published book.
During the assassination attempt, Routh was hiding near the 6th hole of the golf course, where Trump was supposed to arrive shortly.
A Secret Service agent who was patrolling the area noticed Routh hiding in the bushes and saw the barrel of his rifle. At that moment, the agent quickly reacted by firing at Routh, then called for backup.
Fortunately, no shots were fired at Trump, but the situation was taken very seriously by the Secret Service.
After the incident, Routh tried to escape by car, but law enforcement officers quickly spotted him on a nearby highway.
When they searched his car, they found several phones, a passport, and 12 pairs of gloves.
The gun used in the attempt was an AK-47-style weapon with an extended magazine and an unreadable serial number.
It was loaded with 11 bullets and ready to fire, which, of course, highlighted the seriousness of Routh’s intentions.
Federal prosecutors soon charged Routh with several crimes, including the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, possession of firearms for a violent crime, and assaulting a federal officer.
If found guilty, these charges could result in life in prison for Routh. As for the legal proceedings, the case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed.
Interestingly, this was not the first time Trump had been targeted. In July 2023, a gunman tried to assassinate Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump was shot in the ear during that incident, but a Secret Service sniper killed the attacker.
This earlier attack, along with Routh’s attempt, shows the ongoing threats that public figures like Trump face.
Currently, Routh is being held without bail as the investigation continues. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a strong statement condemning the violence, saying that targeting public officials is an attack on democracy itself.
He assured the public that the Department of Justice would do everything it could to hold Routh accountable for his actions.
While the legal process continues, Trump has voiced concerns that the Justice Department is not taking the assassination attempt seriously enough.
He believes Routh’s charges are too lenient and has suggested that political bias affects the case’s handling.
As a result, Routh faces a long road of legal challenges. The evidence against him is strong, and the consequences could be severe.
Although the full details of Routh’s actions are still being uncovered, it is clear that his attempt to harm a political figure like Trump could have had far-reaching consequences.
As the investigation moves forward, more information may emerge, but for now, Routh stands accused of an incredibly serious crime.
