An indictment has been returned against suspect Ryan Routh by a federal grand jury in Miami for the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The incident took place at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the seriousness of violence targeting public officials and stated that the Department of Justice will use all available resources to hold Routh accountable for the attempted assassination. Garland stressed that such violence undermines the core values of the country and must be stopped.
Routh allegedly hid on the Trump golf course and attempted to fire a rifle at the former president, marking the second attempt on Trump's life this year. He is facing charges of attempted assassination of a presidential candidate.
During a court hearing in Florida, Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe granted the government's request to detain Routh until the resolution of charges. The Justice Department had requested pretrial detention, which was supported by strong evidence presented in court.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco condemned the attempted assassination as a direct attack on democracy and reiterated that political violence has no place in the country. Monaco emphasized the Department's commitment to ensuring the safety of public officials and holding accountable those who target them.
Routh's criminal history includes numerous interactions with law enforcement between 1980 and 2010, with charges ranging from writing bad checks to possession of firearms and weapons of mass destruction.
