Ryan Routh, a North Carolina man, has been ordered to remain in federal custody without bail after a Florida judge ruled on charges stemming from an alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
NBC News reported that the decision came after a dramatic sequence of events in September when Routh was arrested near a golf course where Trump was playing. He is currently facing two weapons-related charges, but prosecutors are planning to seek additional charges related to attempted assassination.
Routh was arrested on September 15, 2024, after allegedly lying in wait near Trump International Golf Course, where the former president was playing golf.
The arrest followed a tense situation where Routh, armed with a rifle, fled the scene before being apprehended 45 minutes later by local authorities. His capture ended what officials believe was a premeditated plan to assassinate Trump.
The court proceedings escalated on Monday when a federal judge in Florida ruled to deny bail for Routh, citing the severity of the charges and the public safety threat.
Prosecutors have stated their intent to convene a grand jury to seek further indictments on criminal charges related to the attempted assassination. As of now, Routh faces charges of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Federal authorities revealed evidence suggesting that Routh had been monitoring Trump’s whereabouts for an extended period.
According to court documents, Routh traveled from Greensboro, North Carolina, to West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 14, 2024. His cell phone data showed that he had been in the vicinity of Trump’s golf course and Mar-a-Lago residence on multiple occasions leading up to the September incident.
When Routh was arrested, law enforcement found significant evidence indicating a planned attack. He was in possession of a handwritten list detailing dates and locations where Trump had either appeared or was scheduled to appear.
A search of his vehicle, a Nissan Xterra, revealed an SKS semiautomatic rifle equipped with a scope and extended magazine. The rifle contained 11 rounds, including one chambered and ready to fire.
In addition to the firearm, investigators discovered a digital camera, a backpack, and a reusable shopping bag lined with plates capable of stopping small arms fire. The vehicle also held various other suspicious items, including multiple license plates, six cellphones, a Hawaii driver's license, and a passport.
FBI agents also found a notebook filled with notes about Ukraine, criticisms of Russia and China, and a book written by Routh titled “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War.”
This incident marks the second time this year that Trump has been the target of an assassination attempt. Earlier, in July 2024, Trump survived an attack during a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors emphasized Routh’s potential danger by highlighting his two previous felony convictions, including a 2002 charge for possession of a weapon of mass destruction and a 2010 conviction for possession of stolen goods.
Further complicating Routh’s case is a witness statement from a civilian who claimed Routh dropped off a box of ammunition, tools, and letters several months prior to his arrest.
Among these items was a letter addressed to "The World," in which Routh admitted to an earlier failed attempt to assassinate Trump. He wrote, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you.”
Former President Trump responded strongly to the news of the arrest and the federal charges against Routh. He criticized what he perceives as leniency in the prosecution’s case, stating that the charges were "a slap on the wrist."
Trump also expressed frustration with the Department of Justice and FBI, accusing them of mishandling the case and suggesting bias against him. He called for Florida authorities to step in if the federal government “cannot do their job honestly and without bias.”
In his comments, Trump emphasized the gravity of the situation, mentioning that this was the second attempt on his life since July and accusing federal authorities of "downplaying" the incidents. He reiterated his belief that the ongoing legal actions against him are part of a broader campaign of "Weaponized Lawfare" aimed at undermining his political career.
Routh’s handwritten letters and other documents provide insight into his motivations. In one letter, he wrote about the failed assassination attempt, saying, “I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.”
Another letter criticized Trump’s foreign policy decisions, particularly his handling of relations with Iran and the Middle East, expressing frustration over what Routh perceived as Trump’s destabilizing actions.
In court, federal prosecutors presented this evidence to illustrate the premeditated nature of the plot. They told Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe that the only reason Routh had ties to Florida was to "kill former President Trump."
