WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Federal agents probing the latest assassination attempt on Donald Trump have asked staff at a West Palm Beach golf course whether they leaked classified information to outsiders about when the former president would be at the club, The Washington Post has learned.
Employees at the Trump International Golf Course are being questioned by the federal government after suspect Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, hid in a sniper nest outside the property for 12 hours while the 45th president was playing golf on Sunday before being found by Secret Service agents.
“FBI and Secret Service agents have asked us some questions about who to report to when President Trump comes here,” a golf club employee told The Washington Post on Monday.
“They asked everyone if they would tell their friends when he came in and out,” the official said.
Federal authorities asked employees if they knew Routh, the would-be assassin who was charged with federal firearms violations after he was found lurking off the course with an AK-type assault rifle.
Employees said no one recognized Routh in any of the photos they were shown.
“Actually, everyone was very nice to us, they told us they didn't suspect anything and they made sure I wasn't too upset when they started talking to me,” the staff member continued.
The FBI and Secret Service worked together to interview everyone who was at the club at the time of the assassination attempt.
Employees interviewed by The Post insisted they followed the usual rules, which include strict bans on using phones and taking photographs.
“Using a cell phone at work is worthy of being fired, but taking a photo of President Trump is even worse. Many people choose to leave their phones in their cars to avoid getting in trouble,” the employee said.
“I've been told for a long time that if I text a friend to tell them he's here, even if they're a fan of his, I'm putting him at risk, so I've never done that, and I don't think a lot of my colleagues have done that either.”
Golf club staff were kept separate from each other and were not allowed to use mobile phones during interviews.
Club officials are inspecting the perimeter of the golf green on Sunday and plan to plant more bushes and trees around the perimeter to close gaps that could allow views into the property, such as the opening used by Routh.
Employees said at least 100 to 150 FBI and Secret Service agents were at the club after Sunday's incident.
The club was already bustling before the assassination attempt, as Sundays are typically the club's busiest days, and days when Trump is expected to be there tend to attract more high-profile members.
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Employees estimated that around 60 other employees and about 100 visitors were on the premises at the time of the attempted attack.
There are no metal detectors, but guards carry wands to screen people entering the premises, and sometimes, with Trump's permission, his friends are allowed in without screening, officials claimed.
Staff expect there will be an increased focus on security at the club going forward, including new mandatory training.
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“It's not just the president who plays golf here. There are a lot of important people here – businessmen, big donors – so we all have to be on the lookout for any threats,” the employee said.
“We make it very clear that even if you're a maintenance worker or a kitchen helper, you have a responsibility to take security seriously. If you see something, say something. I think we enforce that.”
