By Dan McCaleb and Brett Rowland (The Center Square)
Federal authorities have secured an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh with the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The indictment also includes four other counts, such as knowingly possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, and forcibly assaulting, intimidating, and interfering with a Secret Service agent.
The indictment states, “On or about September 15, 2024, in Palm Beach County, in the Southern District of Florida, the defendant, Ryan Wesley Routh, did intentionally attempt to kill former President of the United States Donald J. Trump, a major Presidential candidate.”
Trump was playing golf at his club in West Palm Beach when a Secret Service agent, scouting the course about a hole ahead of the Republican candidate for president, spotted a rifle sticking out from the tree line. The agent fired in the direction of the rifle before a witness reported Routh speeding away in a Nissan sport utility vehicle. Local police apprehended Routh shortly after.
Routh’s cell phone records revealed that he had been camped out from 1:59 a.m. to 1:31 p.m., as per a criminal complaint filed earlier in the federal case.
Further investigation uncovered a photo of the nest, showing two bags hanging from a fence off the sixth hole. The bags contained plates that could stop small arms fire, along with an SKS rifle with a scope. A fingerprint on the rifle matched Routh’s, as reported by The Center Square earlier.
Prosecutors emphasized that Routh had been planning to kill the former president for months. His Nissan Xterra contained a handwritten list of dates in August, September, and October 2024, along with venues where Trump had appeared or was expected to be present.
Routh had also left a note with a civilian witness months before the incident, offering $150,000 to anyone who could “finish the job.” The letter acknowledged the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Routh’s attorney dismissed the incident as a publicity stunt. Previously, Routh faced charges on two weapons counts: possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
If convicted on the attempted assassination charge, Routh could face life in prison. This incident marks the second attempted assassination on Trump in about two months, following a previous incident in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
