Florida Officials Claim Federal Government Has ‘Blocked’ Investigation Into Trump Would-Be Assassin

December 19, 2024 TruthUSA

“The shift will occur on January 20th, and we anticipate that the federal obstacles will be lifted,” stated Gov. Ron DeSantis.

On Wednesday, Florida’s governor and attorney general accused the federal government of obstructing a state inquiry into Ryan Routh, the individual charged with an assassination attempt against then-former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody claimed the Department of Justice had instructed the state to halt its investigation into Routh, invoking a federal law pertaining to crimes committed against prominent public figures.

“We were informed that they intended to terminate our investigation and assert federal jurisdiction to do so,” Moody remarked during a news conference on Wednesday. “We did not believe it should be interpreted in the manner they proposed.”

Simultaneously, Gov. Ron DeSantis asserted that the federal government has “impeded Florida’s investigation into the Trump assassination attempt at every opportunity,” and expressed his support for Moody’s efforts to advance their case against Routh.

“The shift will occur on January 20th, and we expect that the federal barriers will be eliminated,” he shared on social media, referencing the date Trump is anticipated to be inaugurated. “The attempted assassin must face the full brunt of justice, and the public deserves clarity regarding the defendant’s background, motives, and plans.”

The Department of Justice did not respond to an Epoch Times inquiry for commentary on Thursday.

Additionally, Moody’s office secured a warrant for Routh’s arrest in mid-September, mere hours after he was reportedly discovered waiting for Trump while armed with a rifle in Palm Beach County, Florida. After allegedly being fired upon by a Secret Service agent, he fled and was apprehended on Interstate 95 in Martin County.

Following his arrest, a car accident occurred that injured a 6-year-old girl traveling with her family, Moody stated during a news briefing. This crash was reported to have happened in connection with the pursuit of Routh along the interstate.

“Due to that (accident), we felt it was necessary to pursue justice for her and her family, who will never fully recover as they deal with her injuries,” Moody commented during a press briefing on Wednesday.

Moody indicated that the crash occurred after authorities had halted traffic on Interstate 95 while attempting to capture the suspect. A spokesperson for Moody noted that prosecutors are prepared to file new charges when Routh is in state custody.

The multi-vehicle collision transpired approximately 30 minutes after Routh’s arrest on I-95, as per the state’s investigation; however, Moody insisted it was a direct consequence of his actions in evading capture. The girl sustained serious injuries, according to Moody’s office.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit for Routh, the accident took place about three to four miles south of where law enforcement halted Routh’s vehicle during his apprehension.

Northbound lanes of the major interstate were shut down due to concerns related to the traffic stop and the uncertainty surrounding possible weapons or explosives inside Routh’s vehicle, according to the affidavit. Additionally, southbound lanes were closed as officials investigated Routh’s car.

On September 15, a Secret Service agent reportedly found Routh with his gun barrel protruding through the perimeter fence of Trump’s golf course while the former president was on the course. The agent fired on Routh, leading him to flee in his vehicle before being apprehended by sheriff’s officials and other law enforcement along I-95 later that day.

Federal prosecutors state that Routh, who is listed as a resident of Hawaii, waited for the former president for approximately 12 hours. Cellphone data indicated he had been present in the vicinity of Trump’s golf course and Mar-a-Lago for the preceding month prior to the alleged assassination attempt.

Subsequently, prosecutors reported that they uncovered a note left with an acquaintance by Routh, in which he expressed his intention to assassinate Trump, specifically due to the first Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement established by the Obama administration. Social media accounts linked to Routh also revealed his strong support for Ukraine during the Russia–Ukraine conflict and efforts to recruit individuals to join the fight.

This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.

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