Background: Sara Routh, daughter of Trump assassination suspect Ryan Routh (WPLG/YouTube). Top left inset: Ryan Routh (Law&Crime). Top right inset: President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon). Bottom inset: U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida).
The daughter of Ryan Routh, who is charged with the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a golf course last year, publicly criticized federal prosecutors and U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon regarding the trial. She described the case against her father as “bulls—” and condemned Cannon for being an openly biased appointee of Trump.
“She let Trump off on his charges last year,” Sara Routh told Miami station WPLG while Ryan Routh, who is representing himself, wrapped up his defense in the Southern District of Florida. “She should have recused herself from the beginning,” Sara Routh continued.
As the trial neared its conclusion with closing arguments on Tuesday, Sara Routh highlighted Cannon’s previous dismissal of Trump’s classified documents case, arguing it showed an inherent bias against her father. This isn’t the first accusation of bias brought against Cannon, with her judgment in the Mar-a-Lago case facing similar scrutiny.
“Obviously biased, anybody knows that,” Sara Routh lambasted.
She, along with Ryan Routh’s son, Adam Routh, traveled from Hawaii to Fort Pierce, Florida, on Monday to witness the final stages of their father’s trial.
Routh, 59, faces charges including attempting to assassinate a leading presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and various firearm-related offenses. The prosecution alleges he planned to target Trump at a West Palm Beach golf course, having reportedly established a sniper “hide.”
“All bulls—,” Sara Routh said about the accusations, which include the alleged penning of a letter by her father that prosecutors say included threats toward Israel.
“That is a complete bulls— lie,” Sara Routh told WPLG. “I would like them to show me that letter.”
Asked about allegations of threats being made against neighbors, Sara Routh said, “No, that never happened either. I would like to see proof. Show me proof, because there is none.”
She went on to condemn the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida for not giving her dad a chance to explain himself or argue his case, with Cannon and prosecutors interjecting multiple times to stop him from saying and doing certain things over the past few months, WPLG reports.
“My father is just getting shut down, everything he says,” Sara Routh said. “It’s all been pretty tough.”
Routh reportedly called a firearms expert and two of his friends as witnesses in his defense as he argued that he was not a threat to Trump and could not actually kill him.
“Is it your personal opinion of me that I am peaceful and gentle, and nonviolent?” Routh asked longtime pal Marshall Hinshaw on Monday. “I would say so,” Hinshaw said. “I would not expect you to harm anyone, Ryan.”
WPLG reported that Cannon instructed Routh several times to keep his questions within the bounds of the rules of evidence and proper court procedure. The former construction worker appeared confused and flustered throughout the proceedings, according to the station.
“It is obviously hard for us to watch the court turn him down on everything he has to say, any questions for his own witnesses,” Sara Routh said.
Prosecutors said Tuesday during closing arguments that the evidence has shown that Ryan Routh “wanted Donald Trump dead” and he “almost got away” with it, according to Fox News.
“No doubt, no reasonable doubt, no doubt whatsoever that it was the man,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Browne reportedly told the jury.
Deliberations were set to begin on Tuesday afternoon.
