(The Center Square) – Ryan Routh was found guilty of all charges in a plot to kill Donald Trump by a federal jury that needed little time to reach a verdict Tuesday afternoon.
Deciding to represent himself and getting cautions many times from Judge Aileen Cannon along the way, Routh nevertheless presented himself as incapable of the five charges prosecutors levied against him. The jury of seven women and five men in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Pierce ultimately were swayed more – needing only about two hours, 20 minutes – by the United States’ attorneys and their 38 witnesses over seven days of testimony.
Routh’s defense included three witnesses on the eighth day. The North Carolina native who has lived in Hawaii faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing is Dec. 18.
Routh was found guilty of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; assaulting a federal officer; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He had pleaded not guilty to all of them.
Four U.S. marshals responded to an outburst by Routh, taking him from the courtroom. He tried to stick his neck with a pen. Cannon permitted his return, in shackles and with no blood showing, to learn of the sentencing date.
His daughter, Sara, said encouraging words to him before shouting toward the bench using expletives leading to her escort from the courtroom.
In its closing, the prosecution’s message to jurors was to consider evidence, both digital and forensic; the established travels of Routh prior to that Sunday; and a round in the chamber of the rifle as well as 19 others in the magazine.
“The evidence has shown one thing and one thing only – the defendant wanted Donald Trump dead,” said Christopher Browne, an assistant U.S. attorney.
The prosecution said giving up on his plot isn’t a defense, legally, for attempted assassination. Jurors agreed.
On Monday, Routh assured Cannon he did not want to testify and she gave him warning that when doing a closing argument only evidence presented is in play. On Tuesday he told the jury he was innocent, said the prosecution failed to prove his intent to kill Trump, and had a few more exchanges with Cannon as he veered from the rules of the courtroom.
The judge sent the jury out because of Routh saying things not in evidence.
A construction worker by trade, Routh in July convinced Cannon to allow him to represent himself. His lack of litigation training, however, was evident in failing to stop the prosecution’s roll through its case either with objections or effective cross-examination; struggles to stay relevant, often drawing the ire of Cannon; and finally, less than a day of defense.
Prosecutors say the suspect was going to attempt take the life of Trump, eventual winner of the presidency over then-Vice President Kamala Harris, as he golfed on a Sunday afternoon. The Sept. 15, 2024, incident came 65 days after a shooter on a roof struck Trump’s ear with a bullet in Butler, Pa.
Security agents for Trump encountered Routh prior to the golf group reaching the area. Routh is accused of raising a rifle, leading to a shot from agents, a short vehicle chase and the suspect’s apprehension on Interstate 95.
The Center Square confirmed he participated in the Super Tuesday primaries in 2024 from the North Carolina State Board of Elections website, and in Hawaii’s 2024 elections through the Office of the City Clerk for the city and county of Honolulu.
