Legal Team for Second Failed Trump Assassin Suspect Ryan Routh Weighs Insanity Defense – One America News Network
By OAN Staff Abril Elfi
6:37 PM – Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The legal representation for Ryan Routh, who faces charges of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at a golf course in Florida this September, is reportedly exploring the possibility of an insanity defense.
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On Wednesday, Routh attended a hearing in federal court presided over by Judge Aileen Cannon.
Routh’s attorneys indicated that a mental health expert has met with him on at least two occasions. They further mentioned that Routh had consultations with various mental health professionals who assert that they can demonstrate his deteriorating mental health.
The defense highlighted that the last individual to interact with Routh before his arrest reported that he was “hallucinating,” with additional witnesses describing him as “severely delusional.”
Prosecutors revealed that Routh sent approximately 40 letters to various national news organizations, seemingly trying to convince the media that he is an “upstanding individual.” These letters were intercepted prior to delivery, but Judge Cannon noted that she had not imposed a gag order restricting his freedom of speech at this time.
It is alleged that Routh spent over 12 hours with a firearm and supplies on the boundary of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, where Trump was golfing on September 15th. A Secret Service agent observed Routh aiming a rifle through a fence and quickly discharged his weapon towards him. Routh fled the scene but was arrested later that day after an unidentified woman alerted authorities, providing them with Routh’s license plate number and describing his vehicle.
The man accused of the assassination attempt has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including attempted murder of a presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. His trial is currently set for February 10th, 2025.
Routh’s legal team has filed a motion requesting a postponement of the trial until December 2025, citing the “extraordinary volume” of discovery that remains to be reviewed.
“Proceeding with the scheduled trial or soon after — on charges that could lead to life imprisonment — would result in a miscarriage of justice,” defense attorneys stated in the motion.
Prosecutors have announced their readiness for the February trial but are open to a “reasonable” delay; however, they contend that a delay until December 2025 would not be “reasonable.” Their response to Routh’s delay request, submitted on Tuesday, included additional details regarding the discovery.
Of the 18 cell phones retrieved during the investigation, 17 belonged to Routh. His notebook reportedly contained “dozens of pages listing names and numbers connected to international locations,” according to prosecutors.
The filing asserted that a “large number of law enforcement agents and agencies” are working “around the clock” to trace Routh’s activities both within the United States and “in multiple foreign countries.”
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