A man has been charged with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump after allegedly staking out his Florida golf course for nearly 12 hours.
Ryan Routh, 58, was apprehended on September 15 after a rifle was spotted protruding from bushes at the West Palm Beach course, where Trump was playing. A Secret Service agent, who was monitoring the area ahead of Trump, fired shots at the suspect, prompting Routh to flee the scene. He was arrested within an hour.
Initially, Routh faced charges related to firearms offenses. However, prosecutors have now expanded the charges, citing a note left by Routh indicating his premeditated intent to kill Trump. The note, dropped off months earlier at an unnamed individual’s home, was handed to authorities after his arrest. According to the U.S. Justice Department, the note read: “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.”
The letter, titled “Dear World,” allegedly offered a $150,000 reward for anyone who could successfully “finish the job.” Investigators also found a handwritten list of dates and locations where Trump was scheduled to appear.
In addition to the note, Routh’s mobile phone data placed him near Trump’s residence and the golf course for about a month leading up to the incident. Six phones were recovered from Routh’s car, one of which showed recent searches on how to travel from Palm Beach to Mexico.
Routh now faces multiple charges, including assaulting a federal officer, using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, and two additional firearms charges. Prosecutors have also referenced Routh’s book, where he criticized Trump’s foreign policies, especially regarding Ukraine and Iran. In the book, Routh suggested that Iran had the right to “assassinate Trump” for his actions during his presidency.
As of now, Routh has not entered a plea. Investigations are ongoing as more details surrounding the plot emerge.
Read more at Sky News.