A man, identified as Ryan Routh, who has been accused of plotting to assassinate President Trump, has proposed a list of witnesses he wishes to call during his trial. The list includes notable figures like his commander, activist Mahmoud Khalil, and even a Secret Service agent, who he claims suggested he “spank/slap” him.
Routh, labeled an aspiring assassin, was charged for an incident where he allegedly attempted to shoot Trump at a Florida golf course last year. He submitted a rather unusual list of 24 potential witnesses on September 2, and he’s described as having an “unstable ego-like” demeanor.
Despite lacking formal legal training, Routh is representing himself in his federal trial, which has recently seen the appointment of a judge in Fort Pierce, Florida. Judge Eileen Cannon has ruled that most of his witness list will not be permitted to testify.
During the court proceedings, it came to light that Routh, 59, previously asked questions of a Secret Service agent who found him hiding with an SKS assault rifle at the Trump International Golf Course on September 15.
His witness list includes academics and activists, such as Yale professor Jason Stanley, known for his work on fascism, alongside personal connections like his own son, Oran Routh.
At a recent hearing, Judge Cannon dismissed most of Routh’s proposed witnesses, labeling the requests as “false and inadequate.” Nevertheless, she did say she would allow a few friends and family members to offer testimony in support of him.
On the prosecution’s side, they plan to summon several law enforcement officials from agencies like the FBI, Secret Service, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
As of Wednesday, Routh has been present for the ongoing jury selection process, which is expected to conclude soon, with the trial slated to last around three weeks. Cannon has cautioned Routh to adhere to court rules, but given his past behaviors, there may be unexpected developments in the trial ahead.
This week, Cannon also halted Routh from pursuing unrelated line of questioning, which he introduced regarding student activism and various geopolitical issues involving Greenland and Palestinians.
Since parting ways with his legal team earlier in the summer, Routh has filed numerous perplexing court documents. He has raised queries about his eligibility for the death penalty and even proposed bizarre exchanges that could involve him being traded with Hamas, Iran, China, or Russia if he loses a hypothetical golf game. He whimsically suggested his execution could be contingent on the outcome of that game.
Currently, Routh faces multiple charges related to this conspiracy to commit assassination and if found guilty, he could face a lifetime in prison.
