A man has been convicted for attempting to assassinate President Trump while he was golfing in South Florida last year. After being found guilty on all five counts, Ryan Rouse, 59, briefly tried to stab one of the federal judges with a pen in the courtroom.
The jury took around two hours to deliberate before reaching their verdict, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Rouse, who had pleaded not guilty, faced charges that included attempted assassination and several firearm violations involving federal officers.
His sentencing is set for December 18th. Reports indicate that immediately after the verdict was read, Rouse made an aggressive move toward a judge with a pen, leading to chaos in the court. His daughter, Sarah, reportedly cried out in distress and expressed her love for him, insisting he hadn’t harmed anyone.
Following the incident, Rouse was returned to custody without his jacket and tie, and there were no visible signs of blood on his shirt.
Throughout the two-week trial, Rouse represented himself after feeling that his official defenders were not adequately listening to him. He made a notable statement about being labeled dangerous despite not being given a fair chance in his own defense.
Federal prosecutors presented evidence, including testimonies from 38 witnesses, indicating that Rouse had plotted to kill Trump. They described how he infiltrated a West Palm Beach golf course last September, where he allegedly aimed a rifle towards the area where Trump was expected to appear.
Despite not firing his weapon, prosecutors maintained that his intentions were clear. “The evidence shows one thing: Ryan Wesley Rouse wanted Donald Trump dead,” U.S. attorney Christopher Brown stated in his closing remarks.
On the other side, Rouse insisted that his intent was misinterpreted and that his focus had been on a scenario that wouldn’t result in any fatalities, countering the prosecution’s claims.
Rouse also pointed out that if he hadn’t pulled the trigger, it was hard to believe a real crime had taken place. His defense included testimonials from a firearms expert and two character witnesses, but he didn’t testify himself.
Amidst the trial, Sarah Rouse expressed her belief that the proceedings were unfair. She indicated that the judge, Eileen Cannon, who had been appointed by Trump in 2020, should have recused herself from the case.
Ryan Rouse was ultimately found guilty of various charges, including possession of a firearm to further a violent crime and assaulting federal officers. He was also convicted for owning weapons as a felon and possessing a firearm with an erased serial number.
Federal prosecutors took measures to restrict Rouse’s statements during the trial to prevent misleading the jury.
This incident marked the second assassination attempt against Trump during his presidential campaign. Previously, in July, a shooter had attempted to target Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania but was neutralized by the Secret Service without injury to the candidate.
Updated at 5:23pm
