According to cellphone records, Ryan Routh texted his three adult children and fiancée to express his love shortly before a U.S. Secret Service agent identified him as the individual who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump at his golf course in Florida.
Later that same day, after his arrest, Routh called his fiancée from the Palm Beach County jail to inform her about what had happened, only to find out that she was already aware. “Everybody knows, it’s been hours,” she responded in a recorded conversation. “The whole world knows.”
In federal court, Routh is representing himself after facing charges for attempting to kill Trump. He is scheduled to present his defense on Monday, planning to call only three witnesses.
The prosecution, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, finished their case on Friday afternoon after questioning 38 witnesses over seven days in hopes of ensuring Routh’s life sentence.
Prosecutors assert that Routh plotted for weeks to kill Trump, aiming a rifle through foliage while Trump was golfing on September 15, 2024, at his country club in West Palm Beach.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and various firearm violations.
On Friday, Routh told U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon that he requires approximately half a day to present his defense, indicating plans to call a firearms expert along with two character witnesses, though he hasn’t disclosed if he will testify himself.
After two hearings in July, Cannon approved Routh’s self-representation request. Routh claimed his court-appointed public defenders were diligent but did not listen to him and were afraid of his demeanor.
“How can they adequately represent me and claim I’m not dangerous if they don’t believe that?” Routh stated in July.
The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes the right of criminal defendants to represent themselves in court, provided they can demonstrate competence in waiving their right to legal defense. Since Routh took over his case, his former attorneys have been available as standby counsel throughout the trial.
Cannon informed the attorneys to prepare for their closing arguments on Tuesday, allowing each side one hour and 45 minutes. Jurors are set to begin deliberations immediately afterward. Although the trial was initially slated for more than three weeks at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, Routh’s relatively brief cross-examinations have accelerated proceedings.
In a recounting of the alleged attack at the golf course, a Secret Service agent testified last week that he noticed Routh before Trump was visible. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who then opened fire, prompting Routh to abandon his weapon and flee without firing a shot, according to the agent’s testimony.
Law enforcement received assistance from a witness who testified to seeing an individual running away after hearing gunfire. The witness was subsequently transported by police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was apprehended, and he confirmed that Routh was the fleeing suspect.
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Just nine weeks prior, Trump survived an assassination attempt while campaigning in Pennsylvania, during which a gunman fired eight shots, one of which grazed Trump’s ear. The assailant was later killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Routh, formerly a construction worker from North Carolina, had recently relocated to Hawaii. Self-identifying as a mercenary leader, Routh drew attention by vocally discussing his violent intentions and plans to insert himself into global conflicts, as corroborated by witnesses.
During the early phase of the Ukrainian war, Routh attempted to recruit soldiers from multiple countries, including Afghanistan, Moldova, and Taiwan, to join the fight against Russia. He was previously arrested in 2002 in Greensboro, North Carolina, for evading a traffic stop and barricading himself from law enforcement with an automatic firearm and what was classified as a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be a destructive device with a 10-inch (25-centimeter) fuse, according to police reports.
In 2010, police searched one of Routh’s warehouses and discovered over 100 stolen items, including power tools, building materials, kayaks, and spa tubs. He received either probation or a suspended sentence in both felony cases.
In addition to the federal charges against him, Routh has also entered a not guilty plea for state charges concerning terrorism and attempted murder.
