Federal prosecutors announced on Monday their intention to pursue an indictment against Ryan Wesley Routh for allegedly attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump in Florida earlier this month. The prosecutors revealed their plan during a court hearing where they asserted that there is sufficient evidence to charge Routh with the attempted assassination.
According to the prosecutors, Routh traveled to West Palm Beach with the sole purpose of killing the former president. They described Routh's actions as part of a month-long plan to carry out the assassination. Routh had positioned himself at a vantage point near the Trump International Golf Club, where he had a clear line of sight to Trump's location.
The prosecutors detailed that Routh had set up what they referred to as a 'sniper's nest' along the fence bordering the golf club. This setup included bags with armored plates that could withstand shots from firearms, resembling a scene from a movie or a war zone. Routh was reportedly only minutes away from Trump's arrival at a specific location where he had a clear shot at the former president.
Despite the elaborate setup, defense attorneys for Routh argued that the makeshift attachment of a scope to the rifle using tape suggested a lack of sophistication on Routh's part. However, the judge emphasized that the level of skill was not a determining factor in assessing Routh's intent to carry out the alleged assassination attempt.
Following the hearing, the judge ruled that Routh should remain in custody pending further legal proceedings. The case is expected to be presented to a grand jury for consideration of additional charges related to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
