Oct 12, 2024

Man Indicted for Attempted Assassination of Former President Donald Trump at West Palm Beach Golf Course

by LC Staff Writer | Sep 25, 2024
Man Indicted for Attempted Assassination of Former President Donald Trump at West Palm Beach Golf Course - Ryan Routh Facebook via nbcnews.com Photo Source: Ryan Routh Facebook via nbcnews.com

A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted Ryan Routh on charges of attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump following a September 15 incident at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course. The indictment, filed late Tuesday, adds three new charges, including possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer, specifically the Secret Service agent who discovered Routh during a security sweep at the golf course.

The attempted assassination charge, the most severe, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Routh had already been facing charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and obliterating a firearm’s serial number.

According to court filings, Routh waited nearly 12 hours outside the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach Golf Club. During a security sweep, a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of a rifle pointed in the agent’s direction. The agent opened fire, and Routh fled the scene, later captured on a nearby interstate. Authorities claim Routh never fired his weapon. Further investigation revealed that Routh had spent the month before scouting the golf course and Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Prosecutors also uncovered a letter allegedly written by Routh months earlier, stating his intent to assassinate Trump.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the attack, stating, “Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for.” He emphasized that the Department of Justice would use all available resources to hold Routh accountable. Trump’s legal team has argued that the state of Florida should prosecute the case due to alleged conflicts of interest stemming from Trump’s other federal cases. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has echoed this sentiment, calling for state-level prosecution.

The case has been assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed federal judge who is also overseeing the former president’s Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. Cannon has drawn significant attention and criticism for her rulings in that case, and the special counsel overseeing it has appealed her previous decisions.

Routh remains in custody as the case proceeds, with federal prosecutors continuing to build their case based on cell phone records, surveillance, and other evidence that allegedly ties him to the planned attack.

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LC Staff Writer
LC Staff Writer
Law Commentary’s Staff Writers are dedicated legal professionals and journalists who excel at making complex legal topics accessible and relatable. They are committed to providing clear, accurate commentary that helps readers understand the impact of legal news on their daily lives.