Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man, has been charged with attempting to kill former President Donald Trump after he was arrested outside Trump’s south Florida golf course with a gun on 15 September. Routh was indicted on five counts including attempted assassination of a major political candidate, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Prosecutors have detailed evidence of a murder plot, including a note left by Routh declaring his intent to kill Trump and offering $150,000 to anyone who could complete the job. Routh’s note cited Trump’s foreign policy decisions as part of his motive for the alleged assassination attempt.
Authorities believe Routh staked out the golf course for a month before the incident and had intended to use a semi-automatic rifle fitted with a scope to open fire on Trump. A US Secret Service agent at the golf course spotted Routh with a rifle aimed at him and fired at him, causing Routh to flee the scene.
Routh was arrested while traveling north on I-95 and his SUV was found to contain a list of dates and venues where Trump was expected to appear. Before this incident, Routh had previous run-ins with the law, including convictions for possessing a fully automatic machine gun and stolen goods.
The Department of Justice has condemned the violence targeting public officials and vowed to hold Routh accountable for the attempted assassination. The case highlights the ongoing security threats faced by politicians and the need for increased vigilance in protecting them.
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