The man suspected of plotting to kill Donald Trump in Florida wrote a letter describing his “assassination attempt” months before the incident, according to federal prosecutors. Ryan Wesley Routh, in the letter shared by Department of Justice prosecutors, admitted his failed attempt and offered $150,000 to anyone who could complete the job. The handwritten note also criticized Trump’s handling of relations with Iran. The letter was found in a box along with ammunition, a metal pipe, four phones, and other objects.
Routh appeared at a detention hearing where the judge ruled that he must remain in prison without bail pending trial. His lawyer did not provide any immediate comment on the matter.
This is not the first time Trump has been targeted for assassination this year. In July, an attempted assassination took place at a Pennsylvania rally where Trump was injured after being shot at by a gunman.
Trump has accused law enforcement under President Joe Biden’s administration of mishandling and downplaying both assassination attempts against him. He believes that the charges brought against Routh are too lenient.
The FBI investigation into these incidents is ongoing. Both Kamala Harris and Biden have condemned these attacks and have received similar protection as the president since the Pennsylvania incident.
During the recent incident in Florida on September 15th, Secret Service agents opened fire after spotting Routh with a rifle near Trump’s golf course. Routh fled but was later detained by police officers during a traffic stop on a highway.
Upon searching Routh’s car and surrounding area, FBI agents discovered various items including a loaded semi-automatic rifle with accessories like scopes and magazines capable of stopping small arms fire. They also found evidence suggesting that Routh had been tracking Trump’s movements prior to his arrest.
In addition to this evidence, agents reviewed a book apparently written by Routh where he expressed regret for misjudging Trump as well as himself and even suggested that others were free to assassinate both him and Trump.
