Man found guilty of attempted assassination in plot to kill Trump at Florida golf club
Ryan Routh was convicted on five federal charges, including attempted assassination and assaulting a federal officer, after a jury deliberated for two hours, officials said.
- Routh represented himself in court and claimed he never intended to harm anyone, despite evidence indicating otherwise.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the verdict shows a commitment to punishing political violence and that the attack was an affront to the nation.
- Routh attempted to stab himself with a pen in the courtroom after the verdict was read, illustrating his distress.
A federal jury convicted Ryan Wesley Routh today of trying to assassinate President Trump a little more than a year ago at Trump’s International Golf Club in Palm Beach, Florida.
The 59-year-old attempted assassin will face years if not life in prison. The jury convicted him of attempting to assassinate Trump, assaulting a federal officer, and three other crimes.
The verdict came after a prosecution that detailed his plan to murder Trump. After Routh heard the verdict, he apparently attempted suicide in the courtroom.
The Attempt
The trial revealed that Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano spotted Routh from his sniper’s lair, pointing an SKS rifle at the agent. Fercano fired on Routh, who fled the scene.
At the site of Routh’s attempted shooting, authorities found the loaded rifle, which was equipped with a scope. The safety was off. Also found was a magazine containing 19 rounds and “steel armor plates, and a camera attached to the fence pointing toward the sixth hole green of the golf course, where Routh had been hiding,” the Justice Department release on the verdict recounted.
Authorities later caught Routh heading northbound on Interstate 95 in a Nissan Xterra.
“A search of Routh’s Nissan Xterra found numerous mobile phones, and a list of flights out of the country in the afternoon and evening of Sept. 15, 2024 — the day of the attempted assassination — along with directions to Miami International Airport,” DOJ continued:
Cell records for two of the cell phones found in the Nissan Xterra showed that on multiple days and times from Aug. 18 to Sept. 15, Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International and the President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.
A witness testified that Routh left a box at the witness’ residence that contained a confessional letter.
“Dear World,” it began. “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry. I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to whomever can complete the job.”
Prosecutors said Routh reconnoitered the golf course 17 times, Fox News reported.
The Verdict
Routh was convicted of the following crimes:
- attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate — maximum penalty, life imprisonment;
- possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence — maximum, life imprisonment;
- assaulting a federal officer — maximum, 20 years
- felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition — maximum, 15 years;
- possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number — maximum, five years.
Routh tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen after he heard the verdict, Fox reported, and his daughter shouted that he was innocent.
“Don’t do anything,” she said. “I will get you out. What the f***, f***, he didn’t hurt anybody. This is not fair. This is all rigged — you guys are a**holes.”
