(The Center Square) – Jurors are seated for the trial of Ryan Routh, the North Carolina construction worker by way of Hawaii charged in Florida with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump during the 2024 election cycle.
Routh, 59, called the process racist on Wednesday, taking aim at prosecutors striking two Black jurors from a shrinking list that began with 180 potential candidates. Judge Aileen Cannon, presiding in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Pierce, sought clarity in his comments tied to reference on sex, race, ethnicity or religion as laid out in a Batson Challenge.
“I think we got our jury,” he said to the bench. “We just got a racist situation.”
Federal prosecutors denied the accusations.
Opening statements will be either late Wednesday or as expected on Thursday in a trial where Routh defends himself with court-appointed lawyers on standby. Four weeks are reserved on the court calendar. Veteran litigation observers project the trial not needing the full length.
Maximum sentencing possible is life in prison.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations. Cannon granted his request to defend himself, with court-appointed lawyers on standby.
Prosecutors say the suspect was going to attempt take the life of Donald Trump, eventual winner of the presidency over then-Vice President Kamala Harris, as he golfed on a Sunday afternoon. The Sept. 15 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.
Routh is a construction worker by trade from Greensboro. He’s been outspoken on world conflict, inclusive of the countries of Ukraine, Afghanistan, Moldova, Taiwan and Russia.
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.
Routh used five rejections and prosecutors used all six allotted. Most of Routh’s 24 witnesses were rejected by Cannon; the prosecution is not necessarily expected to call all 46 it listed.
More than 30 pages of exhibits are expected.
