Ryan Routh: Would-be Trump assassin charged with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate
Late in the afternoon of September 24, a federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, with attempting to kill former President Donald J. Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15. Yesterday’s indictment strengthened the case against Routh who had previously only been charged with firearms offenses.
“Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop.”
“Routh is charged with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, which strikes at the very heart of our democratic system,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is continuing our investigation into this alleged plot and will use the full weight and resources of the FBI to uncover and provide as much information as possible about what led to the events in West Palm Beach. In our country, we have to hold accountable people who resort to violence.”
Donald Trump was golfing at Trump International Golf Course on September 15, when a Secret Service agent conducting a perimeter security sweep saw the partially obscured face of a man — later identified as Routh — in the brush along the fence line near the sixth hole. The agent observed the barrel of a rifle aimed directly at him. As the agent began backing away, he saw the rifle barrel move, and the agent fired at Routh.
A witness saw Routh running across the road from the golf course and getting into a black Nissan Xterra. Based on information provided by the witness, Routh was later apprehended heading northbound on I-95 by officers from the Martin County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Apprehension images of Ryan Wesley Routh
Where Routh had been hiding in the tree line, FBI agents located an SKS semiautomatic rifle with a scope attached and an extended magazine. The serial number on the rifle was obliterated and unreadable. Hanging from the fence was a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that each contained a plate capable of stopping small arms fire.
FBI agents also found documents that contained a handwritten list of dates in August, September, and October and venues where the Trump had appeared or was expected to be present. Cell records for two of the cell phones found in the Nissan Xterra showed that on multiple days and times from August 18 to September 15, Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International and the former President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.
The final charging nail in Routh’s coffin came when a civilian witness contacted law enforcement stating that Routh had dropped off a box at his residence several months ago. Included in the box was a handwritten letter from Routh addressed “Dear World,” which stated, among other things, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.”
As of September 24, Routh has been charged with:
- attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate,
- possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence,
- assaulting a federal officer (a Secret Service Agent),
- felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and
- possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
At a detention hearing on September 23, Routh was ordered to remain in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, Routh faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
According to court records, Routh was convicted of felonies in North Carolina in December 2002 and March 2010. The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Secret Service.
Related, also see:
- Update: Donald Trump declared safe at Mar-a-Lago after latest failed assassination attempt
- Ryan Wesley Routh: Would-be Trump assassin has been charged in federal court
View the assassination indictment against Ryan Routh here
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
For more on the upgraded charges against Ryan Routh to now include “to intentionally attempt to kill Donald Trump, a presidential candidate,” see the video below.
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(Source: Department of Justice)
(Cover photo 0f Ryan Routh, Mugshot, Image credit: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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