A federal judge decided this week that a man accused of trying to kill President-elect Donald Trump in South Florida will not be tried until September 2025.
In an order issued on Monday, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon announced that Ryan Routh’s trial would start on September 8 rather than February 10.
Hawaii resident Routh, 58, entered a not guilty plea.
In order to assess the evidence against Routh and determine whether to raise an insanity defense, Routh’s lawyers had requested that the judge postpone the trial until at least December of next year.
Routh’s lawyers contended during a hearing two weeks ago in Fort Pierce, Florida, that Routh had 17 smartphones and a large number of other electronic devices, and that the defense has access to hundreds of hours of police body camera and surveillance footage.
Given the gravity of the accusations, Cannon stated in her decision that she wished to err on the side of granting additional time, but that it would be excessive to begin the trial before December. She claimed that a trial date of September did not constitute an unjustified delay.
According to the judge, any requests regarding Routh’s mental capacity or defense of insanity must be submitted by the beginning of February. By the end of February, all visits to the assassination attempt site must be completed.
According to the prosecution, Routh meticulously planned Trump’s murder for weeks before shooting a rifle through the bush as Trump was playing golf at his country club in West Palm Beach on September 15. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump appeared. The agent allegedly opened fire after Routh leveled his rifle at him, leading Routh to drop his weapon and run away without firing. He left a message outlining his intentions, according to the prosecution.
Shortly after, while driving on a neighboring freeway, he was apprehended.
If Routh is found guilty of attempting to kill a prominent presidential contender, he might face a life sentence. Three offenses involving guns and assaulting a federal officer are additional allegations. The Miami federal jail is holding him without bail.
Two months after Trump was shot during a Pennsylvania campaign rally and injured in the ear in an attempted assassination, Routh was taken into custody. Although the Secret Service admitted to shortcomings in the run-up to that incident, they have stated that security performed as it should have in order to prevent the possible attack in Florida.
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