Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump wants to represent himself in Florida case
Share and Follow


FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A man charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump last year at his Florida golf course will return to court Thursday to once again explain why he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself.

Ryan Routh previously made the request earlier this month during a hearing in Fort Pierce before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. She did not rule during the hearing but said she would issue a written order later. But now Routh, 59, is set to be back in front of Cannon, a day after his court-appointed federal public defenders asked to be taken off the case.

Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

The judge told Routh earlier this month that she doesn’t intend to delay the Sept. 8 start date of his trial, even if she lets him represent himself. Routh, who has described the extent of his education as two years of college after earning his GED certificate, told Cannon that he understood and would be ready.

In a June 29 letter to Cannon, Routh said that he and his attorneys were “a million miles apart” and that they were refusing to answer his questions. He also suggested in the same letter that he could be used in a prisoner exchange with Iran, China, North Korea or Russia.

“I could die being of some use and save all this court mess, but no one acts; perhaps you have the power to trade me away,” Routh wrote.

On Wednesday, the federal public defender’s office filed a motion for termination of appointment of counsel, claiming that “the attorney-client relationship is irreconcilably broken.” Attorneys said Routh refused to meet with them for a scheduled in-person meeting Tuesday morning at the federal detention center in Miami. They said Routh has refused six attempts to meet with their team.

“It is clear that Mr. Routh wishes to represent himself, and he is within his Constitutional rights to make such a demand,” the motion said.

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney.

Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15 at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh allegedly aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed officers that he saw a person fleeing. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses confirmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said.

Routh has another, unrelated hearing in Cannon’s courtroom scheduled for Friday on the admissibility of certain evidence and testimony that can be used for the trial.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Trump signs executive order to push cities to curb homeless sleeping, drug use on streets

Trump Issues Executive Order Encouraging Cities to Address Homelessness and Drug Use

(The Hill) – President Trump has signed an executive order on Thursday…
Butta testifies in Ksoo trial on Day 3 as part of plea deal

Butta Gives Testimony on Day 3 of Ksoo Trial Following Plea Agreement

Barner confessed to his role in the shooting. He has agreed to…
DailyMail+ unveils its news anchor Power List: Who do viewers hate?

DailyMail+ Reveals Its List of Most and Least Liked News Anchors: Who Isn’t Winning Over Viewers?

For decades, America’s most trusted figures were the men and women delivering…

Video: Blaze Engulfs Shopping Center Near UNLV in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Clark County fire crews battled a large fire…
Cook County Sheriff's Police investigating after man shot in face on Galesburg Avenue in unincorporated Arlington Heights

Cook County Sheriff’s Police Investigating Shooting Incident Involving Man Shot in Face on Galesburg Avenue, Arlington Heights

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) — The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is investigating…
Paramount and Skydance merger approved and Trump visits Powell at Federal Reserve: Morning Rundown

Paramount-Skydance Merger Gets Green Light and Trump Meets Powell at Federal Reserve: Morning Highlights

Federal government regulators approve an $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance.…
Chuck E. Cheese employee arrested in iconic mouse mask for using stolen credit card, police say

Chuck E. Cheese Worker Arrested for Credit Card Theft While Wearing Mascot Mask, Police Report

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Wearing the furry mask of the iconic Chuck E.…
This science-backed workout makes you taller, studies suggest

Research-Backed Exercise Could Help Increase Your Height, Studies Indicate

A trendy workout has been praised not only for improving fitness and…