Ryan Routh has been sentenced to life in prison for attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in September of 2024. Routh, 59, was found guilty last year of trying to kill Trump, then still a presidential candidate, at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. A US Secret Service agent in the area spotted a rifle barrel poking out of the bushes and fired at Routh, who then fled the scene and was arrested nearby.
In a sentencing memorandum, Judge Aileen Cannon stated that Routh's crimes 'undeniably warrant a life sentence'. She noted that Routh had taken steps to assassinate a major presidential candidate, showing a willingness to kill anyone in his way, without displaying any regret for his actions. Routh's lawyer has indicated plans to appeal the verdict.
Routh, who self-represented during the trial and pleaded not guilty, exhibited erratic behavior throughout court proceedings, including challenging Trump to a game of golf and making bizarre references to historical figures. He attempted to stab himself with a pen after the jury delivered their guilty verdict.
Evidence presented included a semiautomatic rifle with an extended magazine found at his hideout, a list of potential locations where Trump could appear, and a note referring to the incident as 'an assassination attempt'. This was the second attempt on Trump's life in 2024, following a shooting at a Pennsylvania rally where one person was killed and several others injured.
In a sentencing memorandum, Judge Aileen Cannon stated that Routh's crimes 'undeniably warrant a life sentence'. She noted that Routh had taken steps to assassinate a major presidential candidate, showing a willingness to kill anyone in his way, without displaying any regret for his actions. Routh's lawyer has indicated plans to appeal the verdict.
Routh, who self-represented during the trial and pleaded not guilty, exhibited erratic behavior throughout court proceedings, including challenging Trump to a game of golf and making bizarre references to historical figures. He attempted to stab himself with a pen after the jury delivered their guilty verdict.
Evidence presented included a semiautomatic rifle with an extended magazine found at his hideout, a list of potential locations where Trump could appear, and a note referring to the incident as 'an assassination attempt'. This was the second attempt on Trump's life in 2024, following a shooting at a Pennsylvania rally where one person was killed and several others injured.
