During the trial of a man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump while he played golf in South Florida last year, FBI and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office witnesses provided details on law enforcement’s response and evidence collection efforts.
An FBI agent presented a 3D computer model of the golf course indicating the alleged sniper’s location was about 125 feet (38 meters) from the 6th hole. Another agent described gathering evidence, which included an SKS semi-automatic rifle with a chambered round, additional ammunition, metal ballistic plates, and cans of Vienna sausages. A Palm Beach deputy testified that the area was checked for explosives, but none were discovered.
This was the second day of testimony, following the previous day’s curtailed opening statements. The federal government utilized its full 40 minutes, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that defendant Ryan Routh, representing himself, forfeited his right to continue his opening statement due to irrelevance despite multiple cautions.
The trial was initially expected to last two or three weeks, but this timeline may be reduced as Routh’s cross-examinations have been brief. Routh has indicated plans to call a firearms expert and several character witnesses. He has not disclosed whether he will testify.
Bob Jarvis, a Nova Southeastern University law professor, noted that there are three possible ways a self-representing defendant could testify, determined by the judge’s discretion, though a defendant cannot be barred from testifying.
“If Routh wants to testify, he has to be allowed to testify,” Jarvis said.
Typically, the defendant takes the witness stand to narrate to the jury. Less common is the defendant questioning himself, while the rarest option, almost never done, would be allowing jurors to ask questions, Jarvis explained.
Under any of those scenarios, prosecutors would then be allowed to cross examine the defendant and ask their own questions.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Prosecutors have said Routh, 59, methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.
Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived an attempt on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear, before being fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.
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