Man Accused of Trump Assassination Attempt Prepares for Trial

Fort Pierce, Sep 2 (AP) — A man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump in South Florida last year is preparing to represent himself in a pretrial conference scheduled for Tuesday, as the case gears up for trial.

Jury selection is expected to commence on Monday at the federal court in Fort Pierce, barring any delays, involving the case against Ryan Routh. In July, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon approved Routh's request to self-represent, with the stipulation that court-appointed lawyers remain on standby.

The trial is set nearly a year after prosecutors claim a U.S. Secret Service agent foiled Routh's alleged attempt to shoot Trump during a round of golf. Routh, 59, denied all allegations, pleading not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a prominent presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms violations.

According to prosecutors, Routh meticulously planned Trump's assassination for weeks beforehand. They accuse him of aiming a rifle through shrubbery at Trump's West Palm Beach country club on September 15, 2024. However, a Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump was visible, and as Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, the agent returned fire, prompting Routh to drop his weapon and flee without discharging his firearm.

Authorities utilized a tip from a witness, who reportedly saw someone fleeing the scene. The witness was transported via police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was apprehended; the witness subsequently identified him as the person seen fleeing.

Routh, hailing from North Carolina, had relocated to Hawaii and identified as a mercenary leader. Witnesses recounted to The Associated Press his outspoken and sometimes violent intentions to involve himself in global conflicts.

At the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Routh allegedly attempted to enlist fighters from Afghanistan, Moldova, and Taiwan to combat Russian forces. His prior run-ins with the law include a 2002 arrest in Greensboro, North Carolina, for evading a traffic stop and barricading himself against officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a supposed “weapon of mass destruction," which turned out to be an explosive device with a 10-inch fuse.

In 2010, a search of Routh's warehouse revealed over 100 stolen items, including power tools, building materials, kayaks, and spa tubs. Despite these charges, Routh was given either probation or a suspended sentence in both felony instances.

In addition to federal accusations, Routh also faces state charges of terrorism and attempted murder, to which he has entered not-guilty pleas.

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