Federal prosecutors have officially charged Ryan Routh with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
The indictment adds three charges — including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer — on top of the two federal firearms charges Routh was already facing.
The move was expected and previewed both by prosecutors in a court hearing on Monday and by Attorney General Merrick Garland in a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
This screengrab taken from AFPTV on Sept. 16, 2024, shows Ryan Wesley Routh speaking during an interview at a rally to urge foreign leaders and international organisations to help provide humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and Ukrainian servicemen from Mariupol in central Kyiv on April 27, 2022, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images
“Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” Garland said in a statement. “The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop.”
He is expected to be arraigned on the charges in a court hearing next week.
Judge Aileen Cannon, the Trump-appointed judge who threw out Trump’s classified documents case, has been randomly assigned to oversee the Ryan Routh case.
Routh, 58, had previously been charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number for the incident that took place at Trump International Golf Club on Sept. 15.
On Monday, prosecutors outlined new details about their investigation and said there is “probable cause to support additional charges which can and should be considered by the court.”
Routh possessed a list that included dates from August to October of venues where Trump had appeared or was expected to be — and is suspected to have traveled near the golf course and Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort multiple times in the month leading up to his arrest, prosecutors said in a detention filing.
In their memo, prosecutors further revealed that Routh allegedly sent a letter “several months prior” to his arrest to a civilian witness that stated, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you.”
Law enforcement officials work outside of the Trump International Golf Club after the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump, Sept. 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Lynne Sladky/AP
The government argued the sole reason Routh was in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15 and the proceeding month was “for one reason and one reason only and that was to kill the former President of the United States.”
On the day of the attempted assassination, Trump was playing golf on the course when a Secret Service agent spotted a gun barrel poking out from the tree line near the sixth green, according to investigators.
The agent then fired in the direction of the rifle and saw Routh fleeing the area and entering his nearby vehicle, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.
In the area of the tree line where the suspect was seen, agents found a digital camera, two bags, including a backpack, and a loaded SKS-style 7.62×39 caliber rifle with a scope, according to the complaint.
Trump was not harmed in the incident and was taken to a safe location by Secret Service agents.
ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.
Ryan Routh, a 25-year-old man from Kentucky, has been charged by federal prosecutors for the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The shocking incident took place on January 6, 2021, when Routh allegedly tried to breach the security perimeter around the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
According to court documents, Routh was armed with a handgun and had made threatening statements about Trump on social media prior to the incident. He reportedly believed that Trump was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic and wanted to take matters into his own hands.
Fortunately, Routh was apprehended by law enforcement officers before he could carry out his plan. He now faces multiple charges, including attempted assassination of a former president, possession of a firearm in a federal facility, and making threats against the president.
This case highlights the ongoing threat of political violence in the United States. While disagreements and debates are a natural part of democracy, resorting to violence is never acceptable. It is crucial for individuals to express their opinions in a peaceful and lawful manner, rather than resorting to extreme measures.
The attempted assassination of Donald Trump serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining civility and respect in political discourse. It also underscores the need for heightened security measures to protect public officials and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
As the case against Ryan Routh moves forward, it is essential for the justice system to ensure that he is held accountable for his actions. Attempted assassinations are serious crimes that threaten the stability and security of our democracy, and those responsible must face consequences for their actions.
In conclusion, the attempted assassination of Donald Trump by Ryan Routh is a troubling reminder of the dangers of political extremism. It is imperative for individuals to engage in respectful and peaceful dialogue, rather than resorting to violence to express their views. The justice system must ensure that those who commit such heinous acts are held accountable for their actions.
