Man Charged with Attempting to Assassinate Donald Trump at Florida Golf Course | US News
A man has been charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump after allegedly surveilling the former president on his Florida golf course for approximately 12 hours.
Ryan Routh was taken into custody after a rifle was spotted poking through bushes at the West Palm Beach course on 15 September.
A Secret Service agent, who was one hole ahead of Mr Trump, fired at the suspect and he fled, but was captured less than an hour later.
Routh, 58, was initially arrested for two gun-related offenses, but prosecutors have since added more charges to the indictment.
They reported that Routh left a note, written months prior to his arrest, indicating his intention to assassinate Mr Trump.
The note was delivered to the home of an unidentified individual who contacted authorities after Routh’s arrest, according to the US Justice Department.
Prosecutors stated that the note reads: “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.”
The note was titled “Dear World” and allegedly offered $150,000 (£111,000) to anyone who could “finish the job”.
A handwritten list of dates and locations where Mr Trump was expected to be was also discovered in his possession, according to prosecutors.
The rifle said to have been used in the assassination attempt
A weapon was spotted poking from bushes on the edge of the course. Pic: Reuters
Routh spent a month in southern Florida – with mobile phone data indicating his presence near the golf course and Mr Trump’s residence.
Authorities found six phones in his possession, including one that showed a Google search on how to travel from Palm Beach to Mexico, in his car.
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Moment Ryan Routh is arrested
The incident at the golf course occurred two months after Mr Trump survived an assassination attempt while on stage in Pennsylvania.
Routh also faces charges of assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and the two original firearms charges from last week.
He has not yet entered a plea.
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Prosecutors have also referenced a book authored by the suspect in which he criticized Mr Trump’s foreign policy decisions, including in Ukraine – where Routh reportedly traveled to support the conflict against Russia.
In the book, he also mentioned that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for withdrawing from their nuclear deal.
