Ryan Routh can represent himself at trial
The man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at one of his Florida golf courses last year was given clearance by a federal judge Thursday to represent himself in his upcoming trial. LiveNOW’s Andy Mac spoke about the trial with FOX News’ Olivianna Calmes.
Ryan Wesley Routh, accused of attempting to ambush and assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump at his South Florida golf course this past September, issued a court filing in which he challenged the president to a round of golf.
What they’re saying:
“A roung [sic] of golf with the racist pig, he wins he can execute me, I win I get his job,” wrote Routh.
RELATED: Ryan Wesley Routh charged with assassination attempt of Trump
Dig deeper:
Authorities said Routh tried to assassinate Trump, who was running for his second term last September as the GOP presidential nominee, while he played golf at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Ryan Wesley Routh speaking during an interview at a rally on September 15, 2024. (Credit: Nicolas GARCIA / AFPTV / AFP via Getty Images)
Routh is facing five felony counts in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida. They include attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate; possessing a firearm to carry out a violent crime; assaulting a federal officer; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Routh formally charged with assassination attempt
Ryan Routh has been formally charged with attempting to assassinate former President Trump while at his golf course in Florida. Routh was charged with multiple other related charges including firearm offenses.
Who is Ryan Wesley Routh?
The backstory:
The 59-year-old Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.
Trump assassination attempt: body cam video
New body cam shows the moment deputies arrested the suspect in the second assassination attempt. Martin County Sheriff’s Office released the video showing footage of Ryan Routh being detained by officers.
In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch-long fuse.
RELATED: Suspect in apparent Trump assassination attempt allegedly wrote note of plans, feds say
In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.
The Source: The information in this story comes from court filings, statements from federal authorities, and reporting by The Associated Press. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
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