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A federal jury on Tuesday convicted Ryan Wesley Routh on all charges related to his attempt to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course last September, following a dramatic trial in which the defendant represented himself.
The 59-year-old Hawaii resident was found guilty after just two and a half hours of deliberation on charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and multiple firearm violations stemming from the Sept. 15, 2024, incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
Routh now faces life in prison when sentenced.
The conviction caps a two-week trial marked by frequent judicial interventions as Routh, acting as his own attorney, repeatedly strayed from courtroom protocol. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon cut short his closing argument after just 42 minutes when he began discussing topics ranging from the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to Ukraine and founding father Patrick Henry.
"To merely have a weapon in the presence of another does not mean intent," Routh argued to jurors, attempting to downplay the severity of his actions by noting he never fired a shot at Trump.
Throughout the proceedings, Cannon repeatedly admonished Routh for disrupting court sessions and asking witnesses inappropriate questions. When he announced he would not testify in his own defense, Cannon asked if he had sufficient time to consider the decision. "A year," Routh replied.
Federal prosecutors painted a starkly different picture, with prosecutor Christopher Browne telling the court that Routh had planned to kill Trump "for a long, long time." The government's case was bolstered by a handwritten note found in Routh's possession that was addressed "To the World" and stated plainly, "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump."
"It is not every case where the defendant writes his intent down on a piece of paper," Browne said during closing arguments. "This is not a whodunit."
Over seven days of testimony, federal prosecutors called 38 witnesses who placed Routh at the scene and testified that he could have killed Trump had he not been discovered. Routh, by contrast, called just three witnesses and concluded his defense before lunch on Monday.
The incident unfolded when a Secret Service agent spotted Routh hiding in shrubbery near the golf course's fifth hole, allegedly waiting for Trump to come within his line of fire. Routh was arrested at the scene and charged with what prosecutors described as a carefully planned attack on the former president.
The case highlighted ongoing concerns about political violence in America, coming as the nation grapples with heightened tensions around political figures and public safety. Routh, described by character witnesses as a "jolly person" who was not violent, had previously been a Trump supporter before his apparent change of heart.
The assassination attempt occurred during a critical period in the 2024 presidential campaign and raised fresh questions about security protocols for major political candidates. The Secret Service agent's quick action in spotting Routh potentially prevented what prosecutors argued could have been a successful assassination attempt.
Judge Cannon, who was appointed by Trump and previously dismissed classified documents charges against the former president, had reluctantly allowed Routh to represent himself after he clashed with court-appointed attorneys, saying they were "a million miles apart." She called his decision to self-represent a "bad idea" but ordered public defenders to remain on standby.
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