Ryan Routh, a 58-year-old man, has been indicted on a charge of attempted assassination of a political candidate after he was found pointing a rifle through a fence at former President Donald Trump’s Florida golf course. The Department of Justice is taking the case seriously, with Attorney General Merrick Garland stating that violence against democracy will not be tolerated.
Routh, who has been remanded in custody, is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison for the attempted assassination charge. Court documents show that the case has been assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee. Prosecutors have revealed evidence suggesting a plan to kill Trump, including a note dropped off by Routh offering $150,000 for someone to “finish the job.”
Evidence also showed Routh spending time in South Florida near Trump’s properties and having a list of dates and venues where Trump was expected to appear. While Routh did not fire any rounds and did not have Trump in his line of sight, he was arrested after a Secret Service agent spotted him with a rifle and fired at him as he fled.
This incident comes after a previous assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, highlighting concerns about the safety of political figures. The Secret Service has acknowledged security failings leading up to the previous incident but has stated that security measures worked as intended in this case to prevent a potential attack. Routh has not yet entered a plea, and his lawyers’ attempts to have him released on bond were unsuccessful.
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