A federal judge in South Florida has ruled that the trial for a man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump will be postponed until September 2025. The defendant, a 58-year-old Hawaii resident named Ryan Routh, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial, initially scheduled to begin in February 2025, has been rescheduled to start on September 8, 2025, as per the order issued by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. Routh's defense team requested the trial delay to allow more time for reviewing the extensive evidence against him and considering a potential insanity defense.
Routh, who was found in possession of 17 cellphones and various electronic devices, is facing charges of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and three firearms counts. Prosecutors allege that Routh meticulously planned the assassination attempt on Trump, which was thwarted by a Secret Service agent during a golf outing at a West Palm Beach country club in September 2024.
Following the incident, Routh was apprehended while driving on a nearby interstate. He remains in federal custody at a Miami jail without bail. The trial judge emphasized the seriousness of the allegations but deemed a September trial date as reasonable, allowing sufficient time for any potential insanity defense preparations.
Prosecutors maintain that Routh left behind a note detailing his intentions to kill Trump and aimed a rifle at a Secret Service agent before fleeing the scene. The charges against Routh carry a potential life sentence if convicted.
As the trial approaches, any motions related to Routh's mental competency must be filed by early February, and any site visits pertinent to the case must be completed by the end of February. The Secret Service has acknowledged security lapses in a previous attempt on Trump's life but asserted that proper measures were taken to prevent the Florida incident.
