Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, appeared in court on Monday to face new charges. Routh pleaded not guilty to the five charges against him, including attempted assassination and gun offenses. His attorneys requested a jury trial and waived a formal reading of the charges.
During the hearing overseen by Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, Routh spoke briefly only to confirm his understanding of the charges. The incident occurred on September 15 when a member of Trump’s Secret Service detail spotted Routh with a rifle near the golf course. Routh was arrested in a neighboring county after attempting to flee when the agent fired in his direction.
Fortunately, Routh did not have Trump in his line of sight and did not fire any rounds. However, he left behind incriminating evidence, including a rifle, a digital camera, a backpack, and a handwritten note detailing his plans to kill Trump. The note offered a reward for anyone willing to “finish the job.”
Prosecutors revealed that Routh had a history of felony convictions, including charges of possessing stolen goods in North Carolina in 2002. Additionally, he was in possession of a weapon with an unreadable serial number, a violation of federal law. These new charges were added after Routh was initially charged with gun offenses.
The attempted assassination in Florida came just two months after Trump survived a gunshot wound during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Despite acknowledging security failings leading up to the Pennsylvania incident, the Secret Service has stated that security protocols worked effectively in preventing the Florida attack.
The case against Routh is ongoing, with the next step being a jury trial to determine his guilt or innocence. The seriousness of the charges, along with Routh’s prior criminal history, adds complexity to the legal proceedings. The court will need to carefully consider all evidence presented before reaching a verdict in this high-profile case.
