Ryan Routh, the man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course last year, received a life sentence in prison on Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon imposed the maximum penalty sought by the Justice Department. The sentencing follows Routh's conviction on all counts related to the September 2024 incident.
On September 15, 2024, 59-year-old Ryan Routh hid in bushes near Trump's West Palm Beach golf course with a rifle as the then-presidential candidate golfed. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano spotted Routh near the sixth hole, fired at him, and thwarted the attempt. Routh fled in a nearby vehicle but was apprehended by Martin County Sheriff's Office officers driving north on Interstate 95.
Routh, who fired his lawyers and represented himself, argued during the two-week trial that "merely" possessing a weapon "in the presence of another is not intent." A jury deliberated for two hours before convicting him on all five counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assault of a federal officer. Immediately after the verdict, Routh grabbed a pen and attempted to stab himself in the neck; officers quickly restrained and shackled him.
Prosecutors presented evidence from Routh's writings expressing displeasure with Trump, including a statement that Iran is "free to assassinate Trump as well as me." A letter obtained by the FBI, addressed to a civilian witness, 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. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job." The letter also criticized Trump for ending relations with Iran, claiming it unraveled the Middle East.
A search of Routh's vehicle revealed cellphones and a list of international flights. Records showed the phones pinged near the golf course and Mar-a-Lago multiple times from August 18 to September 15, 2024. Routh had a history of involvement with Ukraine, traveling there in 2022 to recruit fighters, as reported by The New York Times. A Justice Department filing detailed his messages to a contact he believed was Ukrainian, requesting a rocket-propelled grenade and stating, "I need equipment so that Trump cannot get elected," while lamenting that Trump "is not good for Ukraine."
The attempt occurred two months after Thomas Crooks shot at Trump during a July 13, 2024, rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing his ear. Two months later, Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
