Suspected Trump Gunman Indicted for Attempted Assassination Charge
Ryan Routh, accused of targeting former U.S. President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course with a rifle, now faces an indictment on charges of attempted assassination of a political candidate.
Routh, 58, was previously charged with two firearm offenses after he was caught aiming a rifle through a fence at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, where the former president and current Republican candidate was playing.
Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the act, stating, “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 remains in custody, with the attempted assassination charge potentially carrying a life sentence. The case will be presided over by Judge Aileen Cannon, who had earlier dismissed a separate case involving Trump and classified documents.
Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting Routh had meticulously planned the assassination attempt. They claimed he left a note months before, offering $150,000 for anyone who could “finish the job,” indicating premeditation. Phone data placed Routh near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate, and he possessed a list of Trump’s scheduled appearances.
A Secret Service agent opened fire on Routh after spotting him with the rifle, prompting Routh to flee. He was arrested within an hour on a Florida highway, leaving behind a loaded SKS-style rifle, a camera, and other items.
This incident follows a separate assassination attempt two months earlier, where Trump was shot and wounded during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has acknowledged previous security lapses but emphasized that swift action prevented another potential attack in Florida.
