Trial of Ryan Rouse Continues

In the fifth day of Ryan Rouse’s federal trial, the prosecution presented evidence linking his clothing and belongings to a sniper’s hideout at Trump International Golf Club, related to an assassination attempt last year.

FBI Special Agent Jose Loureiro showcased photos purporting to connect Rouse’s attire—a long-sleeved pink shirt, pants, and leggings—with the scene. The prosecutor pointed out red stains on Rouse’s pants, suggesting they matched red paint found on bags at the site. They also highlighted blue flashlights discovered in the area.

The cross-examination was brief.

“Did a blue flashlight, with that name, land there by coincidence?” asked Routh.

“I don’t know,” Loureiro replied, and that ended the questioning.

Earlier in the trial, Rouse was noted to have made comments in court that were less than serious.

William Gale, a commander with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, testified about monitoring distressing radio traffic which included shouts of “shots fired.” He described discovering two backpacks, a rifle, and a camera secured to a fence near the sixth hole at the golf club. Nearby, he noticed Vienna sausages, which prosecutors alleged were linked to selfies taken by Rouse hours earlier. Routh chose not to question this witness.

Sergeant Kenneth Mays, another tactical officer, described how he pushed through dense vegetation, finding a magazine and a bag along the fence where, according to him, someone had been present. Routh pressed him on the operation of an AK-47, interrupting with repetitious inquiries about its mechanics.

Before the lunch break, Kathryn Rose, an FBI special agent, presented various exhibits, including a sealed rifle and other evidence. When asked by Judge Eileen Cannon if the jurors wished to examine the evidence more closely, they declined.

Earlier, an FBI forensics expert used drone footage and animated reconstructions to demonstrate the sniper’s position, noted to be over 126 feet from the target.

Routh pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors argue he plotted for months, traveling from Hawaii to Florida, and was prepared to fire on September 15, 2024.

As the trial proceeds, additional FBI witnesses are anticipated, with proceedings expected to resume on Monday.