Feds charge Ryan Routh with assassination attempt in Trump golf course incident

Federal prosecutors person filed a charge of attempted assassination of a statesmanlike campaigner against Ryan Routh, who was arrested arsenic helium fled from his sniper’s perch astatine Trump International Golf Club successful Florida.

The indictment, unsealed Tuesday, alleges that Routh “did intentionally effort to kill Former President of the United States Donald J. Trump, a large Presidential candidate” erstwhile helium hid retired adjacent wherever Trump was golfing successful West Palm Beach connected Sept. 15. During a perimeter expanse of the course, Secret Service agents saw Routh crouched successful brushwood adjacent the sixth hole, and past opened occurrence erstwhile they spotted his SKS-type 7.62×39 caliber rifle.

Routh, who did not negociate to occurrence disconnected immoderate shots himself, attempted to flee, but helium was captured arsenic helium traveled northbound connected I-95 a abbreviated clip later. He was initially charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

He has been further “charged with attempted assassination of a statesmanlike candidate, which strikes astatine the precise bosom of our antiauthoritarian system,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said successful a statement.

In this representation released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office, instrumentality enforcement officers apprehension Ryan Routh, the antheral suspected successful the evident assassination effort of Donald Trump, Sept. 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

“The FBI is continuing our probe into this alleged crippled and volition usage the afloat value and resources of the FBI to uncover and supply arsenic overmuch accusation arsenic imaginable astir what led to the events successful West Palm Beach,” helium concluded. “In our country, we person to clasp accountable radical who edifice to violence.”

In addition, the indictment besides charged Routh with possessing a firearm successful furtherance of a transgression of unit and assaulting a national officer.

It comes aft prosecutors earlier this week outlined caller details astir the lawsuit and declared that determination is “probable origin to enactment further charges which tin and should beryllium considered by the court.” They alleged that Routh “stalked” Trump successful Florida for much than a month, citing compartment telephone information that places him astatine the play people arsenic good arsenic Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence crossed respective days betwixt August 18 and the time of his arrest.

Routh besides near down a note detailing his intentions.

“Dear World, This was an assassination effort connected Donald Trump, but I americium truthful atrocious I failed you,” Routh wrote. “I tried my champion and gave it each the gumption I could muster. It is up to you present to decorativeness the job; and I volition connection $150,000 to whomever tin implicit the job.”