WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — Ryan Routh, the man charged with the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty to all charges in a brief court hearing on Monday. Routh, 58, appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach, where his defense attorney, Kristy Militello, entered the plea on his behalf.
Charges and Potential Life Sentence
The grand jury indictment, returned on September 24 in Miami, charges Routh with five counts, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, assault on a federal officer, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. If convicted of the attempted assassination, Routh could face life in prison.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart presided over the arraignment, which lasted just three minutes. Routh, wearing a brown jail uniform, acknowledged the charges with a simple “Yes, your honor” when asked if he understood the indictment.
Details of the Assassination Attempt
Routh’s charges stem from an incident on September 15, when he was spotted with a semi-automatic rifle near a golf course where Trump was playing. According to Secret Service reports, a federal agent noticed Routh behind a chain-link fence aiming a rifle in Trump’s direction. Although Routh did not fire, he attempted to flee the scene before being apprehended by authorities.
Further investigation revealed Routh had left a note with an associate months earlier, urging others to “finish the job” if his attempt failed and even offering $150,000 for a successful assassination.
Routh Remains in Custody
During a previous detention hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe denied Routh’s request for release on a $250,000 bond into his sister’s custody. Despite arguments from the defense downplaying Routh’s actions as a failed publicity stunt, prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the threat. Routh has remained in detention since his arrest.
Judge Aileen Cannon Assigned to the Case
The trial will be overseen by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee. Cannon has recently made headlines for her involvement in the classified documents case against Trump, which she dismissed in July. That ruling is currently under appeal. Cannon was randomly assigned from a small pool of South Florida federal judges to handle the Routh case.
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