Trump assassination suspect appears in court, pleads not guilty

by Lauren Bratton

Photo: Adobe Stock

[UPDATED: Article and title updated at 1:20 p.m. EST to reflect that Routh pleaded not guilty to all charges.]

Ryan Wesley Routh appeared in court on Monday to plead not guilty to five federal charges for attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump on Sept. 15 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The 58-year-old pleaded not guilty but will remain in jail until trial. Prosecutors have alleged that Routh tried to assassinate Trump from outside of the golf course with a rifle pointed through the bushes.

Routh was originally charged with three gun-related offenses but was indicted for the attempted assassination and assaulting a federal officer while in possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to Reuters.

Routh traveled from North Carolina in mid-August and stalked Trump for a month before he attempted to execute his plan, according to court filings. Routh’s cell phone was pinged “on multiple days and times from August 18th, 2024, to September 15th, 2024,” the filings also stated.

Routh also authored a letter and mailed it to an individual several months earlier detailing his future unsuccessful attempt at Trump’s life.

“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” Routh wrote. He addressed the letter to “The World.”

Routh’s lawyers suggested during his Sept. 23 court appearance that he may have written the letter for publicity purposes to bring attention to his advocacy for democracy in Ukraine and Taiwan.

The increase in political violence compelled Congress to pass legislation requiring the Secret Service to provide the same level of protection that the sitting president enjoys. However, a whistleblower recently alleged that Trump’s campaign was forced to cancel an event in Wisconsin because the agency denied additional protection.

On Monday, Trump accused Democrats of election interference by not providing enough Secret Service agents for his rallies. In a Truth Social post, he demanded additional protection.

“We need more Secret Service, and we need them NOW,” Trump wrote.

You may also like