Ryan Routh, a man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course, has been indicted on charges of attempted assassination of a political candidate. Routh, 58, was found pointing a rifle through a fence at a golf course where Trump was playing. He has been remanded in custody pending trial, with the charge carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Court documents reveal that Routh dropped off a note suggesting an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Trump and offering money to “finish the job”. It was alleged that he spent time in South Florida, was near the golf course and Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate, and had a list of Trump’s appearances.
A US Secret Service agent opened fire on Routh, who fled and was arrested on a Florida highway. Routh did not shoot at Trump and left behind items including a rifle, a camera, and food. This incident came after a previous assassination attempt on Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, where the Secret Service acknowledged shortcomings in security but successfully prevented an attack in Florida.
Justice Department officials have emphasized that violence against political figures will not be tolerated, and efforts will be made to hold perpetrators accountable. Routh has not entered a plea yet, and his lawyers were unsuccessful in trying to secure his release on bond. The case has been assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who dismissed a previous legal case involving the former president.
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