A man who staked out Donald Trump for 12 hours on his Florida golf course and wrote of his desire to kill him has been indicted on an attempted assassination charge. The upgraded charges reflect the Justice Department's assessment that the man, Ryan Wesley Routh, methodically plotted to kill the Republican nominee.
Routh aimed a rifle through the shrubbery surrounding Trump's West Palm Beach golf course on an afternoon Trump was playing on it. He left behind a note describing his intention, according to prosecutors.
The case has been assigned to a federal judge who dismissed a previous case charging Trump with illegally hoarding classified documents. The attempted assassination indictment follows a court hearing where prosecutors argued for Routh to remain behind bars as a flight risk and a threat to public safety.
Routh had written of his plans to kill Trump in a handwritten note months before his arrest. He offered $150,000 for anyone who could “finish the job” and kept a list of venues where Trump was expected to appear.
The charge of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate carries a potential life sentence. Other charges in the indictment include assaulting a federal officer and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The potential shooting was thwarted when a member of Trump’s Secret Service protective detail spotted Routh with a rifle barrel protruding through the golf course fence line. The agent fired in Routh's direction, who then sped away and was stopped by law enforcement.
Routh did not fire any rounds and did not have Trump in his line of sight. He left behind a loaded rifle, a digital camera, a backpack, and a plastic bag containing food.
The arrest came after Trump was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally. The FBI initially investigated the episode as an assassination attempt, and the Justice Department vowed to ensure accountability in the case.
Authorities found six cellphones in Routh's car, including one showing a Google search of how to travel to Mexico. A notebook in his car contained criticism of foreign governments and notes about joining the war on behalf of Ukraine.
Routh had authored a book criticizing Trump's foreign policy, including in Ukraine, where he suggested Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for leaving the nuclear deal.
