Ryan Routh found guilty of attempted assassination plot targeting Trump at Florida golf club – Fox News

Ryan Routh found guilty of attempted assassination plot targeting Trump at Florida golf club – Fox News

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A Florida jury has found Ryan Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach last year. Routh, a 59-year-old Hawaii resident, was charged with attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms violations.

The trial, which lasted for two weeks, saw Routh represent himself despite warnings from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that it was a "bad idea." Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump, including aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024. Routh argued that he was merely in the area and had not attempted to assassinate the former president .

Routh's defense called three witnesses, including a firearms expert and two character witnesses, but the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution. The verdict comes amidst growing concerns about political violence in the United States, following the recent murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk .

Routh faces a potential life sentence if convicted of the most serious charge. The trial comes about a year after prosecutors say Routh methodically planned to assassinate Trump while the then-presidential candidate was playing golf. On Sept. 15, 2024, a U.S. Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of a rifle in the tree line and fired, leading Routh to drop his weapon and flee .