Federal prosecutors requested an indefinite delay Wednesday in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last month, citing a massive amount of evidence they’ve gathered in the 17 days since Ryan Routh’s arrest.
In a filing Wednesday afternoon requesting Florida District Judge Aileen Cannon officially designate Routh’s case as “complex,” prosecutors revealed new details about the scope of evidence they’ve amassed as they try to further gain insight into Routh’s actions leading up to his suspected attempt to kill Trump.
“Over the past two weeks, the United States has interviewed hundreds of witnesses,” prosecutors said in the filing. “It has also executed 13 search warrants in Florida, Hawaii, and North Carolina, and seized hundreds of items of evidence, including multiple electronic devices.”
Investigators reportedly have more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns in connection with the investigation, the filing states, and they estimate they have “thousands of videos to review” from the large volume of electronic devices seized thus far.
“All videos, still images, text files, and audio files constitute approximately 4,000 terabytes (4 million gigabytes) of digital review to complete,” the filing says.
Booking photo obtained on September 19, 2024, from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office in Florida, shows the mugshot of Ryan Wesley Routh.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office/AFP via Getty Images
The FBI also continues to conduct forensic tests on other evidence, including “ballistics testing, and fingerprint and DNA comparisons,” which will likely require them to prepare several expert witnesses to testify about in advance of Routh’s eventual trial.
The filing states Routh’s defense attorneys did not oppose the government’s request to indefinitely delay his trial date.
Routh, 58, appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday for his arraignment. Routh’s lawyers entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Prosecutors are seeking to postpone the trial indefinitely for suspect Ryan Routh in the Trump assassination attempt case. Routh, who was arrested last year for allegedly plotting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, has been awaiting trial for several months. However, due to various legal and logistical challenges, prosecutors are now requesting that the trial be postponed indefinitely.
The case against Routh is a complex and high-profile one, with serious implications for national security and public safety. Routh is accused of planning to carry out a violent attack on President Trump during a rally in Washington, D.C. last year. The alleged plot was uncovered by law enforcement officials who were able to intercept communications between Routh and his co-conspirators.
Since his arrest, Routh has been held in custody awaiting trial. However, the legal proceedings have been delayed multiple times due to various issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges related to gathering evidence and witness testimony. As a result, prosecutors are now seeking to postpone the trial indefinitely in order to ensure a fair and thorough legal process.
The decision to postpone the trial indefinitely has sparked debate among legal experts and the public. Some argue that it is necessary to delay the trial in order to properly prepare the case and ensure that justice is served. Others, however, are concerned that the delay could further prolong the legal proceedings and prevent closure for the victims and their families.
In the meantime, Routh remains in custody as the legal process unfolds. It is unclear when or if the trial will proceed, but prosecutors are committed to pursuing justice in this high-stakes case. As the situation continues to develop, it is important for all parties involved to prioritize the fair and efficient administration of justice in order to uphold the rule of law and protect public safety.
