Ryan Wesley Routh was under investigation for a 2019 tip to the FBI that he possessed a firearm despite being a convicted felon, the FBI announced in a press conference Monday.
Special Agent Jeffrey Veltri, head of the Miami FBI field office, said the report came in while Routh was living in Hawaii.
However, authorities have been unable to verify the allegations against Routh.
“During the investigation into the tip, the alleged whistleblower was interviewed but denied providing the original information,” Veltri said. “The FBI then passed the information on to local police in Honolulu.”
Routh, 58, was arrested on Sunday after being spotted 400 to 500 yards away from Donald Trump as he was playing golf on a golf course in Palm Beach, Florida.
The man was arrested after a Secret Service agent noticed a gun sticking out of the fence and fired at the would-be assassin.
Here's what we know about the assassination attempt on President Trump in Florida.
Routh was arrested after a short police chase and, although he appeared to be smiling in court Monday, was charged with violating federal firearms laws.
