Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump on Florida Golf Course
Authorities have charged a 58-year-old man with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump after he reportedly surveilled Trump for around 12 hours on his Florida golf course. The incident occurred on September 15, where an alarming situation unfolded at the West Palm Beach course.
Incident Details
Ryan Routh was taken into custody following the discovery of a rifle poking through the bushes. The alarming situation was escalated as a Secret Service agent, situated a hole ahead of Trump, discharged a weapon at Routh, prompting the suspect to flee. He was detained by law enforcement authorities less than an hour after the initial incident.
Charges and Allegations
Initially charged with two firearm offences, prosecutors have subsequently expanded the indictment against Routh. He allegedly left a note prior to his arrest which explicitly expressed his intent to assassinate Trump, indicating a premeditated intention. The note, which was reportedly left at an unidentified person’s residence, exclaimed, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.”
Further distressing details emerged as the note, which commenced with “Dear World,” offered a bounty of $150,000 for anyone willing to “finish the job.” Additionally, authorities found a handwritten list of potential dates and venues where Trump was expected to make appearances.
String of Evidence
As law enforcement delved deeper into the investigation, it was revealed that Routh had spent roughly a month shadowing Trump in southern Florida, with mobile data tracking his location in proximity to both the golf course and Trump’s residence. In his car, six mobile phones were discovered, one of which incidentally showcased a Google search on traveling from Palm Beach to Mexico.
Previous, Related Incidents
This incident occurred a mere two months after Trump survived a prior assassination attempt while making a public appearance in Pennsylvania. Aside from the attempted assassination charge, Routh now faces additional charges, including the assault of a federal officer and possession of a firearm in a furtherance of a violent crime.
As of now, Routh has not entered a formal plea regarding the accusations against him.
Connection to Past Actions
Prosecutors have pointed to a book authored by Routh in which he criticized Trump’s foreign policies, particularly relating to conflicts involving Ukraine. In the book, Routh reportedly expressed that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for the former president’s withdrawal from the nuclear accord.
