The individual accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at one of his golf courses in Florida last year has been granted permission by a federal judge on Thursday to act as his own legal representative in the forthcoming trial.
Ryan Routh, 59, stood before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce, following a request from his court-appointed attorneys to withdraw from his case. Judge Cannon, however, decided that Routh’s attorneys should remain available in standby capacity and rejected their withdrawal request.
“Mr. Routh has refused six times to meet with members of our office/the defense team. As a result, the undersigned counsel believes that the attorney-client relationship is beyond repair. Mr. Routh has made it clear that he desires to represent himself, and he is exercising his Constitutional rights to make such a demand,” his lawyers expressed in a late-night filing on Wednesday.
The lawyers added that they went to speak with Routh on Tuesday at the Federal Detention Center in Miami, but were informed that Routh didn’t want to meet with them.
Ryan Routh camped out on the Trump International Golf Course West Palm Beach with an SKS-style rifle, a backpack, and a shopping bag. The two bags both contained plates capable of stopping small arms fire, preliminary ballistics testing showed. (Department of Justice)
He then sarcastically adds that the judge could send him away, which would give Trump a symbolic win.
“Perhaps you [Judge Cannon] have the power to trade me away… An easy diplomatic victory for Trump to give an American he hates to China, Iran, or North Korea… everyone wins.”
Routh blasted his legal team, accusing them of ignoring his questions, refusing to write to him and undermining him.
“It was ridiculous from the outset to consider a random stranger that knows nothing of who I am to speak for me… I will be representing myself moving forward,” Routh wrote. “They do not want the case and I no longer want to listen to how horrible a person I am — I can beat my own self up; I do not need help.”
A letter allegedly written by Trump assassination suspect Ryan Routh was revealed in a Department of Justice detention memo last September. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office/Handout via REUTERS | Department of Justice)
“Best I walk alone.”
