US prosecutors have filed gun charges against Ryan Wesley Routh, the man suspected of attempting to kill Donald Trump. This is the second assassination attempt against the Republican presidential candidate in just over two months. Routh, who is from Hawaii, appeared in court in Florida where he was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession and receipt of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The federal charges were brought less than 24 hours after Secret Service agents protecting Trump spotted Routh while he was playing golf in Florida. Their quick action thwarted what appeared to be an assassination attempt on the former president.
This incident comes just over two months after Trump narrowly escaped being assassinated by a gunman at an election rally in Pennsylvania. The country was shocked by this event during an already tumultuous race for the White House.
The motive behind Routh’s actions remains unclear at this time. However, on Monday, Trump took to social media to blame language used by Kamala Harris during her campaign for inciting violence. Harris, who is leading Trump by 2.1 percentage points according to national polls, expressed her deep concern about the possible assassination attempt on Sunday.
According to Palm Beach County sheriff Ric Bradshaw, a Secret Service agent fired shots towards what appeared to be a rifle in the tree line bordering the Trump International Golf Club at West Palm Beach while Trump was playing golf nearby. Routh then fled from the shrubbery and got into a vehicle before being stopped and detained by police officers.
Law enforcement agents discovered two bags, a digital camera, and a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope among the trees near where Routh had been hiding. Records show that his mobile phone had been detected near the golf course’s shrubbery for approximately 12 hours prior to his discovery.
If found guilty, Routh could face up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to $500,000. His lawyer has not yet responded to requests for comment.
A detention hearing has been scheduled for September 23rd along with an arraignment or probable-cause hearing on September 30th pending indictment from US prosecutors.
It has also been revealed that Routh had previously traveled as one of many foreign volunteers who went to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February 2022 but was rejected when attempting to join forces against Moscow.
According to court records cited in the complaint filed against him on Monday, Routh has previous convictions including possession of stolen goods and possession of a weapon of mass death and destruction.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that “the FBI is continuing its investigation into what appears to be an assassination attempt on former President Trump.” He expressed gratitude that no harm came upon Trump during this incident.
This latest incident adds further tension as there are just over seven weeks left until Election Day which has already seen heated rhetoric and concerns about political violence arise due partly because lone gunmen attempted assassinations earlier this year.
Trump himself has made controversial statements such as predicting “a bloodbath” if he loses November’s election while also making inflammatory remarks about immigrants “poisoning” America’s blood supply; additionally pledging pardons for those involved in attacking Capitol Hill last year
