A Florida jury delivered a decisive verdict on Tuesday, finding Ryan Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. Representing himself during the trial, Routh faced five charges, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.
Routh was arrested in September 2024 at Trump’s golf course after a dramatic confrontation with law enforcement. A Secret Service agent testified that he spotted Routh before Trump arrived on the scene. Routh allegedly aimed his rifle at the agent, prompting the agent to fire his weapon, which caused Routh to drop his gun and flee without discharging it. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
Following the reading of the verdict, Routh displayed alarming behavior, attempting to harm himself with a pen found on his desk. His daughter’s cries echoed in the courtroom as U.S. marshals intervened, tackling him to prevent further harm. This incident marked the second assassination attempt against Trump in 2024, following an earlier event where shots were fired at a rally in Pennsylvania, grazing Trump’s ear.
In response to the verdict, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement emphasizing the Department of Justice's commitment to addressing political violence. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche added that the conviction sends a strong message: attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate is an assault on the Republic and the rights of American citizens. A federal district judge will soon determine Routh's sentence, which could result in life imprisonment.
In a nearly hour-long closing argument, Routh contended that there was no intention to kill, arguing that since the trigger was never pulled and the gun was never fired, no crime occurred. He insisted, "I wanted to kill... my actions within the community and toward my co-workers and family should show my obvious non-violence and gentleness." Speaking in the third person, he maintained that the shooting was never a possibility because it was "never in his heart."
However, prosecutors painted a different picture, asserting that Routh spent weeks plotting the assassination of Trump. Prosecutor Christopher Brown highlighted Routh's premeditated actions, stating, "Those aren't coincidences... that's a plan." He noted that Routh had a loaded round in the chamber and the safety off, emphasizing that while motive does not need to be proven, intent is clear. Additionally, prosecutors revealed that Routh allegedly attempted to acquire an anti-aircraft weapon to target Trump’s plane.
In a surprising move, Routh had submitted a witness list that included Trump himself, alongside Columbia activists Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi, whose connections to Routh remain unclear. However, Judge Aileen Canon rejected many of these potential witnesses during the trial proceedings.
This case underscores the escalating concerns regarding political violence in the United States, highlighting the need for vigilant security measures to protect public figures in the political arena.
