A man named Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested near Donald Trump’s golf course in Florida on Sunday, September 15, 2024. He has been charged with attempted assassination.
He had been stalking the former US President for 12 hours at his golf course and had written about his desire in a note to kill him.
The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh had been initially charged with two federal firearms offenses. The upgraded charge contained a five-count indictment (a former accusation against someone for committing a serious crime). It indicated that he methodically planned to kill the Republican nominee.
He intended to launch a rifle through the Shrubbery surrounding Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course when Trump was playing on it.
As per the prosecutors, Ryan Wesley also left a note behind in which he stated his intention to assassinate the former US President.
Controversy with the Judge?
As per the court’s reports, this case has been assigned to Aileen Cannon, an appointed federal judge who took charge of handling the criminal case charging Trump with illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The charges included willful retention of national defense information and obstruction of justice.
She dismissed the case in July 2024, based on her ruling that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith by Attorney General Merrick Garland was unconstitutional because it was not approved by the Senate. This decision has been controversial and is currently being appealed by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
The court orders Ryan Wesley to remain behind bars
Meanwhile, in a court hearing on Monday, September 23, 2024, the prosecutors successfully argued for the 58-year-old Ryan Wesley to remain behind bars, citing it as a threat to public safety.
Ryan was also accused of having his handwritten notes of plans to kill Trump before his arrest was made. The letter points out his intentions referring to his action as a failed assassination attempt and offers $150,000 for anyone who could finish the job. This letter was found in a box that Ryan had dropped off at the home of an unidentified witness months before.
After the attempted assassination, the person who opened the box, took a photograph of the front page of the letter and contacted law enforcement.
The letter was addressed to the world, in which Ryan Wesley expressed his desire to kill the former US president.
As per the prosecutors, the suspect also kept a handwritten list of venues at which Trump was expected to be present in August, September, and October.
Charges against Ryan Wesley Routh
The charge of attempted assassination of Trump, a major presidential candidate includes a potential life sentence. The other charges in the indictment include assault of a federal officer, and possessing a firearm in the furtherance of crime or violence, along with two original firearms charges he faced last week.
Previous Assassination Attempts on Trump
Additionally, the arrest of Ryan Wesley Routh came after Trump was shot and left with injuries in the ear in an assassination attempt. The incident took place in Pennsylvania during a campaign rally on July 13, 2024. He was shot by a man named Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired eight rounds from an AR-15 rifle from the roof of a nearby building. Tragically, one audience present among the audience was killed and two others were left critically injured.
Meanwhile, the shooter was killed instantly by a service agent a moment after he opened fire at the rally. He didn’t have a prior criminal record and was not known to federal law enforcement before this incident.
Kanishka Malhotra is a seasoned journalist with a deep passion for reporting and uncovering the truth. With a specialization in research and investigative Journalism, she has covered wide range of topics related to social issues, travel, lifestyle, technology, Entertainment and much more. She believes to express and share her creativity to the world through words. With relentless pursuit of knowing and uncovering the truth, Kanishka continues to leave a mark in the world of journalism.
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