A man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course was witnessed attempting to harm himself with a pen shortly after being found guilty. Ryan Routh, aged 59, conducted repeated visits to surveil Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course before concealing himself in bushes with a rifle as Trump’s golfing entourage neared. He faced charges of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, and assaulting a Secret Service agent following the incident on September 15 of the preceding year. After a swift jury deliberation, Routh was convicted on all counts and now faces potential life imprisonment.
Upon hearing the verdict, Routh allegedly tried to self-inflict harm with a pen, but was swiftly subdued by four US Marshals. His daughter, Sara Routh, reportedly interjected during the jury’s presence, expressing disbelief and frustration at the outcome. Routh was then escorted out of the courtroom in restraints. During sentencing, prosecutors detailed the meticulous planning Routh undertook leading up to the assassination attempt, which included acquiring a military-grade weapon, monitoring Trump’s movements, and using multiple disposable phones.
The assault on Trump occurred just nine weeks subsequent to an incident where the President was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, by a 20-year-old named Thomas Crooks. While eight shots were fired at Trump, only one grazed his ear, resulting in Crooks being fatally shot by Secret Service counter-snipers. Following Routh’s guilty verdict, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who previously served as one of Trump’s defense attorneys during his initial impeachment trial, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the Department of Justice’s dedication to prosecuting individuals involved in political violence.
Routh, a construction worker lacking legal expertise, opted to represent himself in court after dismissing his attorneys, delivering what onlookers described as an incoherent and erratic defense. One of his unconventional suggestions was that the case be resolved through a golf match, with the winner determining the fate of the loser. Routh proposed that if Trump emerged victorious, he could execute him, whereas if Routh won, he claimed the right to become president. His courtroom conduct repeatedly drew admonishment from Judge Aileen Cannon for flouting court regulations.
Judge Cannon halted Routh’s opening statement prematurely, around ten minutes in, as he delved into a tangent encompassing prehistoric human history and various world leaders, including Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu. Routh informed jurors that the case held no significance and that a life had been fully lived. During the jury selection process, he attempted to pose irrelevant questions to potential jurors, such as their views on the US potentially acquiring Greenland, their stance on pro-Palestinian activism, and their response if a turtle crossed the road while they were driving. Judge Cannon ruled these inquiries as immaterial and prohibited their inclusion.