Ryan Routh charged with attempted assassination of former President Trump, He pleaded not guilty to the new charges Monday in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Through his public defender, the would-be assassin has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate and assaulting a federal employee.
Judge Bruce Rinehart accepted the plea, noting that the defense had requested a jury trial.
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A courtroom sketch depicts Ryan Routh appearing in federal court on Monday, September 23, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh is facing charges related to an alleged assassination attempt on former President Trump. (Lotor Speer)
Reinhardt put Routh and his public defenders on the podium.
Defense attorneys declined to read the indictment in court, and when Reinhardt asked if he understood the charges, Routh responded, “Yes, sir.”
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Ryan W. Routh stands handcuffed after being arrested during a traffic stop on September 15, 2024, near Palm City, Florida. (Martin County Sheriff's Office/Handout via Reuters)
Routh was shackled and wearing a tan prison jumpsuit. He gestured with his handcuffed hand to write something and seemed to nod in recognition of the courtroom sketch artist.
These new charges are in addition to the federal gun charges that appeared in court last Monday.
Routh was previously charged with federal charges of possessing a firearm with a scratch-off number and unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. He was ordered to remain in custody by a federal judge last Monday.
Federal prosecutors formally indict Ryan Routh on suspicion of attempting to assassinate President Trump
On Sunday, September 15, 2024, body camera footage captured Ryan Routh, the suspect in the attempted assassination of President Trump, being taken into custody. (Martin County Sheriff's Office)
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Routh is suspected of stalking Trump at his Mar-a-Lago compound and the former president's golf course in West Palm Beach for several weeks, and may have been planning to flee to Mexico. This was announced by a judge and federal prosecutors.
Routh allegedly waited with a rifle for about 12 hours outside the Trump International Golf Club on September 15 while Trump was playing golf. A Secret Service agent saw Routh pointing a rifle through a fence and opened fire. Routh fled and was arrested the same day.
