Trending

Trump assassination attempt: Man accused of targeting former president pleads not guilty

Ryan Wesley Routh
Trump assassination Attempt FILE PHOTO: This screengrab taken from AFPTV on September 16, 2024 shows Ryan Wesley Routh speaking during an interview at a rally to urge foreign leaders and international organizations to help provide humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and Ukrainian servicemen from Mariupol in central Kyiv on April 27, 2022, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. US media said it was Routh, 58, who was arrested after US Secret Service agents "opened fire on a gunman" carrying an AK-47 style rifle near the boundary of Donald Trump's Florida golf course where the former president was golfing on September 15, 2024. (Photo by Nicolas GARCIA / AFPTV / AFP) (Photo by NICOLAS GARCIA/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images) (NICOLAS GARCIA/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)

Days after being charged with trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump, the accused gunman pleaded not guilty to the federal charges he faces.

Ryan Wesley Routh was in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday to answer to the charges, The Associated Press reported.

Officials said Routh spent 12 hours outside of Trump’s golf course on Sept. 15 with a rifle sticking through the fence line at the golf course a few holes ahead of where Trump had been playing. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh and fired in his direction. Roush left the scene and was later arrested, the AP reported.

Routh never opened fire on Trump and did not have the former president in his line of sight, CNN reported. Prosecutors said Trump was minutes away from being in Routh’s view.

Officials said Routh left behind a camera, backpack, a loaded SKS-style rifle with scope and a bag of food.

He had shared his intention to kill Trump writing a note that offered $150,000 for anyone who could “finish the job,” saying that his attempt on Trump’s life was botched. The letter was given to an unidentified person months before the Sept. 15 assassination attempt.

Routh also called for Trump’s death in a self-published book which told Iran, “You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment and the dismantling of” the Iran nuclear deal, CNN reported.

Routh was first charged with gun offenses, but prosecutors presented their case for more charges in front of a grand jury.

The initial charges were illegally possessing a gun by a felon and having a weapon with an obliterated serial number. The additional charges include an assassination attempt and assaulting an officer, CNN reported.

In all Routh faces five charges, Fox News reported.

Routh’s defense requested a jury trial which will be heard by Judge Aileen Cannon. Cannon’s assignment to the case was random, CNN reported, but she was the judge assigned to Trump’s classified documents case which she dismissed earlier this year.


0
Comments on this article
0

mobile apps

Everything you love about wsbradio.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!