Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court. Routh is facing five charges, including an assassination attempt, gun charges, and assaulting an officer.
According to prosecutors, Routh stalked Trump in Florida for a month before setting up what they referred to as a “sniper’s nest” on the fence bordering Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course. Armed with a Soviet-designed rifle and two bags packed with bulletproof plates, Routh allegedly had a clear shot of the 6th hole green when Trump was golfing.
USA Today reports that a Secret Service agent spotted Routh, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Routh allegedly fled the scene in a car and was arrested by local police less than an hour later on a nearby highway.
Prosecutors have cited a letter Routh allegedly left with a witness who came forward after his arrest. In the letter, Routh allegedly wrote, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you… It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”
Routh’s case has been assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, the federal judge who dismissed criminal classified document mishandling charges against Trump earlier this year.
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