On Monday morning, the jury selection process began in the case of Ryan Routh, the man who allegedly attempted to shoot Donald Trump on his Palm Beach golf course
On Monday morning, at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, the jury selection began in the case of the man who allegedly attempted to kill Donald Trump on his golf course last year. Jury selection is expected to take three days, followed by a month-long trial. Attorneys will question three sets of 60 people to settle on twelve jurors and four alternates.
Ryan Routh, a 59-year-old construction worker from North Carolina and Hawaii, pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges that carry a life sentence, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, using a firearm in furtherance of a crime, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm as a felon and using a gun with a defaced serial number.
Despite the fact that he lacks legal training, Routh has chosen to defend himself in court. According to court filings, since he has begun defending himself, Routh has requested a “beatdown session” with Trump, asked to compete for his freedom in a round of golf with the president and suggested being part of a prisoner swap rather than going to trial.
“I will be representing myself moving forward; It was ridiculous from the outset to consider a random stranger that knows nothing of who I am to speak for me,” Routh wrote in a letter to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in July. “I am so sorry, I know this makes your life harder.”
Judge Cannon- a Trump appointee who oversaw and dismissed one of Trump’s criminal cases- is letting Routh defend himself, but has outlined strict rules. If he demonstrates “vexatious, obstructionist, or obstreperous behavior,” Cannon threatened to sanction Routh or revoke his ability to maintain his pro se status. He was also barred from asking most of his proposed jury questions due to them being “politically charged” and not relevant. Routh will dress in formal attire during the trial and be allowed to use a podium, but he will not be able to roam the courtroom freely.
Prosecutors must prove that Routh not only planned to kill Trump, but that he also took at least one “substantial step” to carry out his plan.
Prosecutors allege that during the early hours of September 15th, 2024, Routh hid in the bushes of Trump’s Palm Beach golf course with a rifle, which was spotted by a Secret Service agent. He allegedly fled after the agent fired at him, and was later arrested after being stopped on a nearby interstate. Prosecutors claim that Routh planned this attack for months, acquiring the military-grade rifle, over a dozen burner phones and researching Trump’s movements and campaign events.
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Prosecutors also claim that, a month before his alleged assassination attempt, Routh attempted to purchase anti-aircraft weapons, communicating with someone who he thought was a Ukrainian, with access to military weapons.
According to court filings, months before the assassination attempt, Routh gave a friend a box with a handwritten letter detailing his plans. Routh claimed prosecutors are misrepresenting this letter by only using part of it, and that the note in its entirety is actually about “gentleness, peacefulness, and non-violent caring for humanity.”
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” the note read. “He [Donald Trump] ended relations with Iran like a child and now the Middle East has unraveled.”
It was alleged that Routh communicated similar thoughts in his 2023 book, where he prompted readers to “assassinate Trump” in part due to his foreign policy with Iran. Prosecutors also accuse Routh of bragging about his alleged crimes in emails from jail.
Prosecutors have shared over 40 potential witnesses and hundreds of exhibits, including forensic evidence allegedly tying Routh to the weapon found at the crime scene. Routh’s witness list encompassed two dozen people, including a group of Palestinian activists and professors, his son, a former girlfriend and Trump himself. Routh claimed two of his proposed witnesses will likely be unavailable to testify, one fearing deportation.
