Suspect in Attempted Assassination of Trump Faces Initial Charges

Ryan Wesley Routh, the individual accused of an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, appeared in federal court Monday morning, facing initial criminal charges. Routh, who was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, will remain in jail while awaiting trial.

During his initial court appearance, Routh, dressed in dark prison scrubs and shackled, answered “yes” to Magistrate Judge Ryon M. McCabe’s questions. Routh stated he had “zero funds” for a private attorney, prompting the court to assign federal public defender Kristy Militello to his case. Militello declined to comment following the hearing. A detention hearing is scheduled for September 23, with arraignment set for September 30.

The charges stem from an incident on Sunday at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. A Secret Service agent noticed a rifle barrel protruding from a fence between the 5th and 6th holes and fired at the suspect, who was within 500 yards of Trump. The suspect fled in a vehicle, and no shots were fired by Routh. Authorities later discovered a sniper’s nest along the fence line containing a scoped rifle, a GoPro camera, and backpacks with ceramic plates.

“This setup indicates a very high level of pre-planning,” former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe told CNN. Routh was detained in Martin County, about an hour’s drive from the golf club, while driving his daughter’s car. A photo released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office showed Routh in a salmon-colored shirt with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Routh, a vocal supporter of Ukraine and former supporter of Trump, had been critical of the ex-president recently. He traveled to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion and attended a Kyiv rally in May 2022. Ukrainian officials described his communications as “delusional ideas.”

Local state attorney David Aronberg indicated that while Routh may face federal charges for possession of a firearm as an ex-felon and aggravated assault against a federal officer, charging him with a crime directly against Trump might be challenging due to the distance between Routh and the former president. Instead, charges related to the assault on the Secret Service agent are likely to be pursued.

President Joe Biden, responding to the incident, called for increased support for the Secret Service, emphasizing the need for additional personnel to ensure the agency’s effectiveness. “Thank God the president is OK,” Biden stated, expressing concern over the need for more resources for the Secret Service.

The incident, occurring 51 days before the election, adds to the recent wave of political violence, including a previous assassination attempt on Trump and a foiled Iranian plot. Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned political violence and expressed relief that Trump was unharmed.

Trump, in a Fox News interview, criticized Biden and Harris, suggesting their rhetoric incited the attempt on his life. Harris is scheduled for campaign events in Washington, while Trump will appear at a new cryptocurrency business launch at his Mar-a-Lago residence Monday evening.