A man who staked out Donald Trump on his Florida golf course for 12 hours and wrote of his desire to kill him has been indicted on an attempted assassination charge. Ryan Wesley Routh was initially charged with federal firearms offenses, but the upgraded charges reflect the Justice Department’s belief that he meticulously planned to kill the Republican nominee. Routh aimed a rifle at Trump through the shrubbery surrounding the golf course and left behind a note expressing his intention.
The case has been assigned to a federal judge appointed by Trump, Aileen Cannon, who dismissed a previous case against Trump in July. The charge of attempted assassination carries a potential life sentence if Routh is convicted. Prosecutors argued that he had written of his plans to kill Trump in a note months before his arrest, offering $150,000 for anyone who could “finish the job.” Routh also kept a list of venues where Trump was expected to appear.
The potential shooting was prevented when a Secret Service agent spotted Routh with a rifle near the golf course fence line. Routh did not fire any rounds and was stopped by law enforcement in a neighboring county. The FBI initially investigated the incident as an attempted assassination, leading Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to initiate a state-level investigation for more serious charges.
Trump criticized federal prosecutors for bringing lesser charges before the attempted assassination charge was added. Attorney General Merrick Garland assured that the Justice Department would ensure accountability in the case. Authorities found cellphones and a notebook in Routh’s car with references to traveling to Mexico and joining the war in Ukraine. Routh had also authored a book criticizing Trump’s foreign policy.
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