Conviction in Attempted Assassination of Trump

Ryan Wesley Rous, who tried to kill President Donald Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach last year, was found guilty on Tuesday. Immediately after the verdict, Rous attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen while in the courtroom.

Rous, 59, from North Carolina, was also convicted of multiple violations involving firearms and assaulting a federal officer. Following a brief trial, jurors deliberated for about two and a half hours after Rous opted to represent himself without legal counsel.

After the conviction was announced, Rous tried to stab himself repeatedly with a pen. Court security quickly subdued him and he was removed from the courtroom. He returned shortly thereafter, restrained, and seemed unharmed despite his tie and jacket being taken away.

A press release from the Department of Justice revealed that Rous faced five federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possession of firearms to further violent crime, and assaulting a federal officer—specifically, Secret Service Agent Robert Fercano. His actions could lead to significant prison time due to the nature of the charges.

Evidence from the trial indicated that Agent Fercano had been patrolling the golf course prior to the incident. He reportedly spotted Rous aiming an AK-style rifle from a concealed position. Rous fled the scene, prompting a swift police response that uncovered a loaded SKS-style rifle, additional ammunition, and a steel armor plate near Rous’s hiding spot.

In a message shared through True Society, Trump expressed gratitude towards Attorney General Pam Bondy and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for their roles in Rous’s conviction. He remarked, “The trial was conducted with utmost diligence, and I want to thank the judges and jurors for their professionalism. This is a bad person with malicious intentions, and they caught him.”