Ryan Routh accused of hiding near Donald Trump’s Florida golf course with a rifle and intent to kill the former president had written a letter months earlier describing his assassination attempt and offering a $150,000 bounty on Trump’s life, US prosecutors said on Monday.
The 58-year-old man, facing two federal gun charges, allegedly aimed a rifle through the tree line while Trump played golf at his West Palm Beach course on September 15, according to a criminal complaint.Routh has not entered a plea but is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing, where prosecutors will seek to keep him jailed until his trial.
In a court filing released ahead of the hearing, prosecutors provided details of a disturbing letter that Routh had delivered months earlier. Addressed “to the world,” the handwritten note reportedly saying, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you. I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”
The letter was discovered inside a box handed over by a civilian witness, which also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, and four phones. The witness had only opened the box after learning of Routh’s involvement in the alleged attack.
Prosecutors say the letter is part of a broader pattern of behavior, including Routh’s 2023 book, Ukraine’s Unwinnable War, in which he encouraged foreign nations like Iran to assassinate Trump. “I apologize. You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment,” Routh reportedly wrote in his book.
Federal charges against Routh currently include possessing a gun with a scratched-off serial number and possessing a firearm illegally as a felon. Additional charges may be pending, including aggravated assault for allegedly pointing the rifle at a Secret Service agent.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, addressing the case on Tuesday, stated that the state would pursue further charges against Routh, saying, “His offense should merit life in prison.”
As Routh awaits further legal developments, the investigation into his actions continues to deepen, with authorities probing his motives and connections in the lead-up to the attempted attack.
The 58-year-old man, facing two federal gun charges, allegedly aimed a rifle through the tree line while Trump played golf at his West Palm Beach course on September 15, according to a criminal complaint.Routh has not entered a plea but is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing, where prosecutors will seek to keep him jailed until his trial.
In a court filing released ahead of the hearing, prosecutors provided details of a disturbing letter that Routh had delivered months earlier. Addressed “to the world,” the handwritten note reportedly saying, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you. I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”
The letter was discovered inside a box handed over by a civilian witness, which also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, and four phones. The witness had only opened the box after learning of Routh’s involvement in the alleged attack.
Prosecutors say the letter is part of a broader pattern of behavior, including Routh’s 2023 book, Ukraine’s Unwinnable War, in which he encouraged foreign nations like Iran to assassinate Trump. “I apologize. You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment,” Routh reportedly wrote in his book.
Federal charges against Routh currently include possessing a gun with a scratched-off serial number and possessing a firearm illegally as a felon. Additional charges may be pending, including aggravated assault for allegedly pointing the rifle at a Secret Service agent.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, addressing the case on Tuesday, stated that the state would pursue further charges against Routh, saying, “His offense should merit life in prison.”
As Routh awaits further legal developments, the investigation into his actions continues to deepen, with authorities probing his motives and connections in the lead-up to the attempted attack.