Verdict Delivered

A federal jury convicted Ryan Routh on all charges for attempting to assassinate President Trump at a Florida golf course last year.

Context

The incident occurred on September 15, 2024, at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, marking the second assassination attempt against Trump during his presidential campaign. Routh, a 59-year-old building contractor from North Carolina, had become increasingly concerned about the war in Ukraine and saw himself as an influential participant in world events, according to public records and interviews with people who knew him.

Assassination Attempt

On Tuesday, a federal jury in Florida convicted Routh on all charges for attempting to assassinate President Trump.

Prosecutors proved that Routh stalked Trump for weeks and spent months planning the attack, living out of his vehicle while monitoring the golf course. On the day of the attempt, Routh hid just outside the golf course fence with a semiautomatic rifle. A Secret Service agent spotted the rifle barrel pointing through the foliage and fired at Routh, who fled and was arrested about 45 minutes later.

Evidence and Trial

The prosecution presented extensive evidence during the trial, including cellphone records showing Routh had monitored the golf course for weeks. 

Investigators found Routh had searched online for Trump’s rally schedule, directions to airports, and flights to Mexico. Shortly before the attempted attack, Routh texted his three children messages of love, prompting concern from one son, who asked if everything was alright. Authorities also discovered a letter Routh had left at a friend's house months earlier that read, “Dear World, This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you.” The letter also offered a $150,000 bounty for killing Trump.

Routh’s Defense

Routh chose to represent himself despite having no legal experience, with the judge repeatedly interrupting his attempts at legal arguments. In his closing statement, Routh spoke about himself in the third person and maintained he was peacefully protesting, claiming prosecutors hadn’t proven intent to kill, saying, “The rifle was never picked up from its resting place.”

After hearing the verdict, Routh attempted to stab himself with a pen, sending the courtroom into chaos. Trump celebrated the verdict, saying, “Justice was served and we'll see what happens.”

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding him guilty on all five charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.