Ryan Wesley Routh was arraigned in federal court on Monday in West Palm Beach after being indicted on additional charges. Routh, 58, was initially arrested on two federal weapons charges. During his appearance in court, the man entered a plea of not guilty to five counts including the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and assault on a federal officer, according to Reuters.
Routh, who made his first court appearance earlier this month, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and an additional five on the charge of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Since his first appearance in court, a judge ordered that the man be kept in jail. Routh stands accused of attempting to kill Trump, 78, as he and an associate played golf on the Trump International Golf Course
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Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Offi)
According to Secret Service agents, Routh never managed to fire a shot from the A K-47-style rifle he was holding as he was noticed by agents who immediately took aim and opened fire on the man. Routh fled the scene and attempted to speed away in a black Nissian. Witnesses close by were able to help police locate the man’s car and eventually cornered him on Interstate 95. Those who remained behind discovered that Routh had left the rifle, a GoPro, a scope and some food.
Last week, prosecutors revealed that Routh had allegedly left a note saying that he truly intended to kill the president,who had recently survived another assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. The note, which is said to have been addressed as “Dear World,” was allegedly dropped in a box at the home of an unidentified individual who immediately reached out to law enforcement. It was noted by the Associated Press that that note had been written on the premise that the attempt was unsuccessful.
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The box, which contained ammunition, a metal pipe and other items, was not opened until Routh had allegedly been taken into custody. “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” the note said, according to prosecutors.
A search of Routh’s car also turned up six different cell phones including one that had a previous search of how to get from Palm Beach to Mexico, a memo from the Justice Department read. Prosecutors also revealed that they found a list of dates and venues where Trump was scheduled to be from August to October.
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AFP via Getty Images)
Trump later broke his silence on the shooting by detailing his perspective of the shooting. The former president reported that he was “grabbed” by Secret Service agents after hearing “four to five gunshots” ring out. Trump said it was “quite something” adding “but it all worked out well”.
“I was playing golf with some of my friends on a Sunday morning and very peaceful, very beautiful weather… and all of a sudden we heard shots being fired in the air, and I guess probably four or five, and it sounded like bullets,” the Republican nominee said during a social media event hosted by X. “The Secret Service knew immediately it was bullets, and they grabbed me… everybody just got into the [golf] carts, and we moved along.”
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AFP via Getty Images)
Trump also joked during an interview with Fox News’ late-night talk show, hosted by Greg Gutfeld that he would have taken Routh out with his golf club had he been given the chance. “I always said golf is a very dangerous game,” the former president laughed.