Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man, has been charged with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump outside of his south Florida golf course. Routh was indicted on five counts in federal court, including attempted assassination of a major political candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm among others. The Department of Justice is committed to holding Routh accountable for his actions, which endanger the principles of American democracy.
Prosecutors allege that Routh had been planning the murder for some time, staking out the golf course for a month before the incident. After Trump’s foreign policy decisions, particularly involving Iran, allegedly fueled his motive, Routh attempted to carry out the assassination using a semi-automatic rifle with a scope. A Secret Service agent on site saw the barrel of the rifle aimed at him and fired at Routh, who fled in his SUV but was caught shortly after.
Authorities found evidence of Routh’s alleged plan, including a note addressed to the world offering a reward for completing the job, as well as a list of dates and venues where Trump was expected to appear. Routh has a history of criminal activity, including prior convictions for possessing a machine gun illegally and possession of stolen goods.
The Justice Department is determined to stop the violence targeting public officials like Trump and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. The attempted assassination has sparked concerns about the safety of political figures and the need to address such threats to protect democracy.
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