Trump Florida shooting attempt: Trial pushed to September


ORLANDO, FL. –

A man accused of trying to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump in South Florida will not stand trial until September 2025, a federal judge ruled this week.

Ryan Routh’s trial will begin on Sept. 8 instead of the previously scheduled start date of Feb. 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said in an order released Monday.

Routh, 58, of Hawaii, pleaded not guilty.

Routh’s attorneys had asked the judge to delay the trial until no earlier than next December, saying they needed more time to review the evidence against him and decide whether to mount an insanity defense.

Routh possessed 17 cell phones and numerous other electronic devices, and there are hundreds of hours of police body cameras and surveillance video that have been provided to the defense, Routh’s attorneys argued during a hearing two weeks ago in Fort Pierce, Florida. .

In his order, Cannon said he wanted to err on the side of granting more time given the seriousness of the allegations, but that starting the trial no earlier than December would be an excessive amount of time. The September trial date did not amount to an “unreasonable delay,” he said.

The judge said any insanity defense or any applications related to Routh’s mental capacity must be filed in early February. Any visit to the site of the assassination attempt must take place before the end of February.

Prosecutors say Routh methodically planned to kill Trump for weeks before pointing a rifle through the bushes while Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. Before Trump appeared, Routh was discovered by a Secret Service agent. Routh allegedly pointed his rifle at the officer, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a single shot. Prosecutors say he left a note describing his intentions.

He was arrested a short time later while driving on a nearby interstate.

Routh’s charge of attempted murder of a major presidential candidate carries a possible sentence of life in prison upon conviction. Other charges include assault on a federal officer and three firearms charges. He is being held without bail at the Miami federal prison.

Routh’s arrest came two months after Trump was shot and wounded in the ear in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service acknowledged failures that led to that shooting, but said security worked as it should to thwart the possible attack in Florida.



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