A man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course attempted to harm himself with a pen after being convicted. Ryan Routh, aged 59, conducted multiple visits to surveil Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course before the incident. He then concealed himself in bushes with a rifle as Trump’s group neared. Routh faced charges of attempted assassination, possessing a firearm for a violent crime, and assaulting a Secret Service agent. The jury swiftly returned a guilty verdict on all counts, leading to the possibility of a life sentence for Routh.
Upon hearing the verdict, Routh reportedly tried to harm himself with a pen, but was intercepted by four US Marshals. His daughter, Sara Routh, spoke out during the jury’s presence, expressing discontent with the decision. Routh was escorted out of the room in restraints. During the sentencing, prosecutors detailed Routh’s meticulous planning for the assassination attempt, including acquiring a military-grade weapon, monitoring Trump’s movements, and using multiple burner phones.
This incident occurred only nine weeks after President Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was shot in the ear by Thomas Crooks, who was subsequently neutralized by Secret Service agents. Following Routh’s conviction, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, a former defense lawyer for Trump, praised the justice system’s response to political violence.
Routh, a construction worker without legal background, opted to represent himself in court and delivered an unconventional defense, suggesting a golf match to resolve the case’s outcome. His erratic behavior and off-topic discussions during the trial led to reprimands from Judge Aileen Cannon, who halted his opening statement due to irrelevant remarks. Routh’s questioning of potential jurors on unrelated matters further disrupted the proceedings, prompting objections from the judge.