The Man Accused of Attempting to Assassinate Former President Donald Trump to Appear in Court

Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, is set to appear in court on Monday after being indicted on additional charges. The second attempt on Trump’s life was thwarted when a member of his Secret Service protective detail spotted Routh’s rifle barrel protruding through the golf course fence line.

Routh will be arraigned in federal court in West Palm Beach on charges of attempted assassination and gun offenses. Despite not firing any rounds or having Trump in his line of sight, Routh left behind incriminating evidence, including a handwritten note detailing his plans to kill Trump.

Prosecutors have stated that Routh’s actions constituted a failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump and that he had offered $150,000 for anyone who could “finish the job.” Monday’s hearing will be held before a magistrate judge, with further proceedings overseen by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon.

President Trump’s criminal case accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate has also been linked to Judge Cannon, generating intense scrutiny for her handling of the case. Routh’s arrest came two months after Trump was shot and wounded in the ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Routh initially faced charges of gun offenses but now also faces charges of illegally possessing a weapon despite multiple felony convictions and possessing a weapon with an obliterated serial number, in violation of federal law.

Overall, Routh’s case is a stark reminder of the security risks faced by public figures like former President Donald Trump and the diligent efforts of law enforcement to prevent such heinous acts.