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Suspect in Trump Golf Course Assassination Plot Enters Not Guilty Plea
A man charged with plotting to assassinate President Trump at his golf course in Florida has pleaded not guilty. This incident, which occurred last September, has garnered significant attention due to the serious nature of the allegations.
Ryan Routh, the accused, will be permitted to hire an expert to evaluate the operability of the rifle that was seized at the scene. This ruling was made by District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated by Trump. The judge specified that the examination should be confined solely to determining if the firearm was functional, with results due by May 15. Routh’s legal team had previously requested broader testing to potentially challenge government findings.
Routh faces charges of attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and two related firearm offenses. His federal trial is slated for September, and it is anticipated that he will soon face additional charges at the state level.
Prosecutors assert that Routh meticulously planned to kill Trump, who was still a presidential candidate at the time. They allege that he aimed a rifle at Trump while the president was playing golf on September 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach club. However, before Trump became visible, a Secret Service agent noticed Routh and intervened. According to prosecutors, Routh pointed his weapon at the agent, prompting the agent to fire his weapon. Routh subsequently dropped the rifle and fled the scene without discharging it. Law enforcement stated he left behind a note outlining his intentions and was apprehended shortly thereafter on a nearby interstate.
In recent developments, federal prosecutors reported that Routh attempted to purchase an anti-aircraft weapon online, allegedly expressing a desire to incapacitate Trump’s aircraft. He reportedly told an associate about the need for “equipment so that Trump cannot get elected.”
Furthermore, Routh’s defense team has moved to suppress testimony from an eyewitness who identified him, arguing that police methods during the identification process were “impermissibly suggestive,” as the witness was only shown a single photograph of Routh.
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