FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Ryan Routh texted his three grownup kids and his fiancée individually to inform them he beloved them, in accordance with cellphone information, shortly earlier than authorities say he was noticed by a U.S. Secret Service agent, who recognized Routh as the person who tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course.
Later that very same day, Routh referred to as his fiancée from the Palm Seaside County jail to inform her about his arrest, however she already knew. “All people is aware of, it’s been hours,” the lady may be heard saying on a recording of the decision. “The entire world is aware of.”
Routh is representing himself in federal court docket after being charged with attempting kill Trump and is ready to current his protection Monday, calling simply three witnesses.
Seasoned prosecutors with the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of Florida rested their case Friday afternoon after spending seven days questioning 38 witnesses in an try to verify Routh spends the remainder of his life in jail.
Prosecutors have mentioned Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump earlier than aiming a rifle via shrubbery as Trump performed golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Seaside nation membership.
Routh has pleaded not responsible to costs of attempting to assassinate a serious presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and a number of other firearm violations.
He advised U.S. District Court docket Decide Aileen Cannon on Friday that he solely wants half a day or so to current his protection. He has indicated that he plans to name a firearms skilled and two character witnesses. He hasn’t mentioned whether or not he plans to testify himself.
Cannon signed off on Routh’s request to represent himself following two hearings in July. Routh advised the decide that his court-appointed federal public defenders had been diligent, however they didn’t take heed to him and had been afraid of him.
“How are they purported to signify me and say I’m not a harmful particular person once they don’t imagine that?” Routh mentioned in July.
The U.S. Supreme Court docket has held that felony defendants have a proper to signify themselves in court docket proceedings, so long as they will present a decide they’re competent to waive their proper to be defended by an lawyer. Routh’s former protection attorneys have served as standby counsel since Routh took over his personal protection and have been current throughout trial the previous two weeks.
Cannon mentioned attorneys must be ready to ship their closing arguments Tuesday, giving both sides one hour and 45 minutes. Jurors will start deliberating after that. Cannon had initially blocked off greater than three weeks for the trial on the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, however Routh’s comparatively quick cross-examinations have led to a faster tempo than anticipated.
Recounting the alleged assault on the golf course, a Secret Service agent testified final week that he noticed Routh earlier than Trump got here into view. Routh aimed his rifle on the agent, who opened hearth, inflicting Routh to drop his weapon and flee with out firing a shot, the agent mentioned.
Legislation enforcement obtained assist from a witness who testified that he noticed an individual fleeing the realm after listening to gunshots. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a close-by interstate the place Routh was arrested, and the witness mentioned he confirmed it was the particular person he had seen.
Simply 9 weeks earlier, Trump had survived an attempt on his life whereas campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight photographs, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear. The gunman was then fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.
Routh was a North Carolina development employee who in recent times had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary chief, Routh spoke out to anybody who would pay attention about his harmful, typically violent plans to insert himself into conflicts all over the world, witnesses have advised The Related Press.
Within the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit troopers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to struggle the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a visitors cease and barricading himself from officers with a totally automated machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch (25-centimeter) fuse, police mentioned.
In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and located greater than 100 stolen gadgets, from energy instruments and constructing provides to kayaks and spa tubs. In each felony instances, judges gave Routh both probation or a suspended sentence.
Along with the federal costs, Routh additionally has pleaded not responsible to state costs of terrorism and tried homicide.
