Court Appearance Looms for Alleged Trump Assassin as New Details Unveiled

An individual suspected by the FBI of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump had a detailed plan in place, according to prosecutors. Ryan Wesley Routh, the 58-year-old suspect, possessed a list that included dates from August to October, identifying venues where Trump had either recently appeared or was scheduled to speak. Prosecutors noted that Routh is believed to have traveled near Trump’s golf course and his Mar-a-Lago resort multiple times leading up to his arrest.

In legal documents filed for a pre-detention hearing, prosecutors indicated that Routh sent a letter to a civilian witness “several months prior” to his arrest. In this letter, he alluded to his intentions, stating, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you.”

Routh was scheduled to appear in West Palm Beach federal court on the same day as the detention memo was filed. He faces charges for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number related to a September 15 incident at Trump International Golf Club.

During a search of Routh’s vehicle following his arrest, authorities discovered six cell phones. One of these devices had conducted a Google search on traveling from Palm Beach County to Mexico. Additionally, investigators found a notebook filled with pages of names, phone numbers, and discussions about joining combat efforts on behalf of Ukraine, as well as criticisms directed at China’s and Russia’s governments.

Cell records obtained by the FBI confirmed that Routh made his way from Greensboro, North Carolina, to West Palm Beach on August 14. From August 18 to September 15, Routh’s phone signal was detected on multiple occasions near both the golf course and Mar-a-Lago, though the memo did not specify exact dates or the frequency of these trips.

On the day of the alleged incident, Trump was reportedly playing golf when a Secret Service agent noticed a gun barrel protruding from a tree line adjacent to the sixth green. After observing Routh fleeing towards his vehicle, the agent shot in the direction of the rifle.

Authorities later confirmed that Routh was positioned 300 to 500 yards away from Trump, and he did not actually fire a weapon. The Secret Service reported that Trump was out of Routh’s line of sight at the time of the incident.

Witnesses provided law enforcement with Routh’s license plate number, which led to his apprehension. Near the location where Routh was spotted, agents found a digital camera, two bags, and a loaded SKS-style rifle with an unreadable serial number.

Routh has not yet entered a plea regarding these initial charges, with his arraignment scheduled for September 30. Meanwhile, the investigation into his actions is ongoing, with the FBI delving into Routh’s social media activity and criminal past while also reaching out to family members for further information.

Just three days after his arrest, a civilian witness informed authorities about a box Routh had previously left at their home. This box contained various items, including ammunition, a metal pipe, and four phones, alongside multiple letters.

Among the letters was one addressed “to The World,” where Routh openly discussed his failed assassination attempt on Trump, even offering a reward of $150,000 to anyone willing to complete the task.

Routh’s sentiments appeared to extend beyond just Trump; in a self-published book from February 2023, he had urged Iran to feel “free to assassinate Trump” as well as himself. The book featured Routh apologizing to Iran for his past support of Trump after the former president’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018.

Furthermore, Routh was known to support various causes, with particular focus on the conflict in Ukraine, which may have contributed to his frustrations towards Trump’s political stance.

As investigators continue to uncover the motives behind Routh’s actions, they remain focused on examining his connections and personal beliefs that may shed light on the intricate details surrounding this alarming incident.

Source: ABC News