What to know about the man charged with trying to assassinate Trump in Florida
Share this @internewscast.com

A man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump in South Florida last year appeared in court again this week. He requested that a federal judge allow him to represent himself while prosecutors sought to prevent him from presenting irrelevant evidence during his trial.

Ryan Routh’s court-appointed federal public defenders requested on Thursday to withdraw from the case because Routh had consistently refused their attempts to meet with him.

Meanwhile, prosecutors involved in the case asked a judge to exclude certain inadmissible evidence, like Routh’s past writings, which might unjustly sway the jury. The judge planned to hear arguments regarding this issue on Friday.

Here’s what to know about the case.

The judge lets Ryan Routh represent himself

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed off Thursday on Ryan Routh’s request to represent himself during his trial but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel.

The judge told Routh that she believed it was a bad idea for Routh to represent himself, but he wouldn’t be dissuaded. Routh, who has described the extent of his education as two years of college after earning his GED certificate, told Cannon that he understood and would be ready.

On Friday, the judge was hearing a motion from prosecutors to limit unrelated evidence at trial. “As the Court knows, Routh has been very explicit in his desire to turn this trial into a circus where his supposed good character is weighed against the President’s,” the prosecutors wrote.

Routh is a self-styled mercenary leader

The 59-year-old Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch-long fuse.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.

Routh is charged with attempted assassination

Authorities said Routh tried to assassinate Trump, who was running for his second term last September as the GOP presidential nominee, while he played golf at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Routh is facing five felony counts in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida. They include attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate; possessing a firearm to carry out a violent crime; assaulting a federal officer; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Judge presided over Trump’s classified documents case

If the judge’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she presided over another high-profile case involving Trump — the classified documents case.

Last year, Cannon sided with Trump’s lawyers who said the special counsel who filed the charges was illegally appointed by the U.S. Justice Department. Cannon’s ruling halted a criminal case that at the time it was filed was widely regarded as the most perilous of all the legal threats the president faced before he returned to office last January.

Cannon was a former federal prosecutor who was nominated to the bench by Trump in 2020.

Trump was not hurt in the incident

He was fine. U.S. Secret Service agents stationed a few holes up from where Trump was playing golf noticed the muzzle of an AK-style rifle sticking through the shrubbery that lines the course, roughly 400 yards away. An agent fired, and the gunman dropped the rifle and fled in an SUV, leaving the firearm behind along with two backpacks, a scope used for aiming and a GoPro camera. He was later stopped by law enforcement in a neighboring county.

Last September’s assassination attempt took place just nine weeks after Trump survived another attempt on his life in Pennsylvania.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
1 dead, 6 injured after shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania: police

Tragic Shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania Leaves 1 Dead, 6 Injured

A tragic incident unfolded at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania during the institution’s…
Amy Bradley disappearance sees 3 major new leads as investigators renew decades-old search: report

Fresh Leads Emerge in Amy Bradley Case as Investigators Revive Search Efforts Decades Later

Nearly 27 years since an American college graduate mysteriously disappeared during her…
12-year-old Minneapolis church shooting survivor shot in head released from hospital

Brave 12-Year-Old Minneapolis Church Shooting Survivor Triumphantly Returns Home After Head Injury Recovery

A 12-year-old girl, who was gravely injured during the shooting at Annunciation…
Can AI keep students motivated, or does it do the opposite?

Unlocking Student Potential: How AI Transforms Motivation in the Classroom

Imagine a student employing a writing assistant fueled by a generative AI…
Chicago volunteers collecting food at El Pollo Cris Cris on SW Side for those in need amid high prices, looming SNAP benefits halt

Local Volunteers Rally at El Pollo Cris Cris to Support Families Facing Rising Costs and SNAP Uncertainty

CHICAGO — As inflation continues to push prices skyward, many families are…
Chicago immigration activity: Federal agents detain worker in Old Irving Park, appear to use tear gas; fear disrupts local parade

Federal Agents Detain Worker in Old Irving Park, Tear Gas Suspected; Local Parade Plunged into Chaos in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — On Saturday, federal agents were once again active on…
Nearly 80K sauna blankets recalled after dozens of burn injuries reported

Urgent Recall Alert: Over 80,000 Sauna Blankets Recalled Due to Burn Injury Risks

In an important safety notice, Lifepro Fitness has announced the recall of…
Heidi Klum drops 'cheeky' new Halloween costume hint

Heidi Klum Teases Fans with Playful Halloween Costume Preview: What to Expect This Year

Heidi Klum might be giving her fans a glimpse of her renowned…
University drops job posting after DEI requirement exposed, professor says ‘I would not be hired’ today

University Withdraws Job Listing Amid DEI Controversy: Professor Reveals Why He Wouldn’t Be Hired Today

This article is part of Fox News Digital’s investigative series Campus Radicals.…
Louvre director grilled on spectacular security failures, including camera pointing away from key balcony

Masterminds of the Louvre: How Thieves Used a Truck-Mounted Lift to Steal Over $100 Million in Jewels

A group of thieves orchestrated a bold heist at the Louvre Museum…
Nick Mangold, beloved former Jets offensive lineman, dies at age 41

Former Jets Star Offensive Lineman Nick Mangold Passes Away at 41

CINCINNATI — The New York Jets mourn the loss of Nick Mangold,…
Mystery man in dapper suit goes viral after appearing in Louvre heist investigation photo

Stylish Stranger in Suit Captures Internet’s Attention Amid Louvre Heist Probe

That’s quite the eye-catching ensemble. A man who inadvertently became part of…