A federal judge has postponed the trial of Ryan Routh, who is accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, to September 8. The trial was initially scheduled for February 10, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon decided on the delay, citing the seriousness of the case and the need to balance preparation time with a timely trial. The judge rejected the defense’s request to delay proceedings until at least December, reasoning that a September start would not constitute an unreasonable delay.
Routh, a 58-year-old resident of Hawaii, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorneys argued for the delay to review extensive evidence, including hundreds of hours of police body camera footage, surveillance videos, and data from 17 cellphones and other electronic devices seized from Routh. They also suggested they needed time to consider mounting an insanity defense. The judge has ordered that any defense related to Routh’s mental health or competency be filed by early February and required any site visits related to the case to be completed by the end of that month.
Judge Postpones Trial for Ryan Routh in Attempted Trump Assassination Case to September
Prosecutors allege that Routh meticulously planned the attack, aiming a rifle at Trump through shrubbery while Trump played golf at his West Palm Beach country club on September 15. The attempt was thwarted when a Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh allegedly aimed his weapon at the agent, prompting the agent to fire, causing Routh to flee without firing a shot. Authorities say Routh left behind a note detailing his intentions and was later apprehended on a nearby interstate.
The charges against Routh include attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, which carries a potential life sentence, as well as assaulting a federal officer and three firearms-related offenses. He is currently being held without bail in a federal detention facility in Miami. The high stakes and complexities of the case have drawn significant attention to the proceedings.
This case comes in the wake of a prior assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, in which Trump was shot and wounded in the ear. The Secret Service acknowledged security lapses in the earlier incident but emphasized that its measures succeeded in preventing the Florida attack. This context has added to the scrutiny surrounding Routh’s trial and the broader implications for presidential security.
