In a high-profile court case against Ryan Routh, the presiding judge, Aileen Cannon, has denied a motion for acquittal, thus leaving the decision of Routh’s fate in the hands of the jury. Prosecutors wrapped up their case after presenting testimony from 38 witnesses over the course of a week, detailing Routh’s alleged conspiracy to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
Routh, who is representing himself, attempted to dismiss four of the five charges against him—excluding the count regarding being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors claim Routh spent weeks planning the assassination, including a particular incident on September 15, 2024, when he allegedly aimed a rifle at Trump while the latter was playing golf at a country club in West Palm Beach. Routh pleads not guilty to charges of attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer, and firearm violations. He argued that the prosecution failed to demonstrate any aggressive intention towards Trump, stating, “The gun was never fired.”
Despite the defence’s assertions, prosecutors countered that Routh took significant steps toward his alleged intentions, remarking that aiming a loaded firearm—safety off—through a fence is a serious act of aggression. Cannon explained her denial of the acquittal motion, indicating that there was enough evidence for a juror to reasonably conclude that the prosecution met its burden of proof.
As the trial progresses, Routh plans to call three witnesses, including a firearms expert, but has not indicated whether he will testify himself. The defence is expected to present its case shortly, with jury deliberations anticipated to begin after the closing arguments on Tuesday.
The prosecution’s case included extensive evidence gathering, linking Routh’s actions to his alleged intent, which spanned over a month prior to the incident. FBI Special Agent Kimberly McGreevy highlighted Routh’s surveillance and stalking behaviours, indicating he had been living out of his vehicle while tracking Trump’s movements.
An interesting point arises from a Secret Service agent’s testimony corroborating that Routh was seen aiming a rifle at him before fleeing without discharging the weapon upon the agent’s response. Additionally, witnesses confirmed Routh’s presence in the vicinity and his quick exit following the incident.
Notably, this was not the first assassination attempt against Trump, following a serious incident just weeks earlier during his campaign in Pennsylvania, where another shooter narrowly missed him.
The trial is ongoing at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, initially set for three weeks, but it is progressing more swiftly than expected.