FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — The man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course last year tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen shortly after being found guilty of all counts on Tuesday. Officers quickly swarmed him and dragged him out of the courthouse.
The jury of five men and seven women found Ryan Routh guilty on all counts he faced after just two hours of deliberation. After the jurors were on their way out of the courtroom, Routh made his desperate move, grabbing a pen in a striking act of self-harm. His emotional daughter, Sara Routh, was heard screaming, Dad I love you don’t do anything. I’ll get you out. He didn’t hurt anybody. Routh’s daughter echoed her sentiments outside the courthouse, claiming the case against her father was rigged.
Routh faced serious charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. Despite pleading not guilty and presenting his own defense in court, prosecutors detailed an elaborate plot that culminated in an incident where Routh aimed a rifle at Trump as he played golf on September 15, 2024.
Routh asserted during his closing argument that he did not intend to kill Trump or anyone else that day, compelling jurors to consider whether a crime occurred if the trigger was never pulled. Yet, his past suggested otherwise; Routh had a history of erratic behavior and previous arrests involving firearms.
As the courtroom chaos unfolded, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon allowed Routh, 59, to represent himself, a decision that likely impacted the trial’s outcome. Attorney General Pam Bondi noted afterward that the conviction reflects a commitment to addressing political violence. In a trial marked by numerous witnesses and evidence, the prosecution ultimately established Routh's intent, leading to his conviction. He now faces the prospect of significant prison time as he navigates a maze of federal charges, and his plea for self-harm echoes the gravity of his actions and their implications.
The jury of five men and seven women found Ryan Routh guilty on all counts he faced after just two hours of deliberation. After the jurors were on their way out of the courtroom, Routh made his desperate move, grabbing a pen in a striking act of self-harm. His emotional daughter, Sara Routh, was heard screaming, Dad I love you don’t do anything. I’ll get you out. He didn’t hurt anybody. Routh’s daughter echoed her sentiments outside the courthouse, claiming the case against her father was rigged.
Routh faced serious charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. Despite pleading not guilty and presenting his own defense in court, prosecutors detailed an elaborate plot that culminated in an incident where Routh aimed a rifle at Trump as he played golf on September 15, 2024.
Routh asserted during his closing argument that he did not intend to kill Trump or anyone else that day, compelling jurors to consider whether a crime occurred if the trigger was never pulled. Yet, his past suggested otherwise; Routh had a history of erratic behavior and previous arrests involving firearms.
As the courtroom chaos unfolded, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon allowed Routh, 59, to represent himself, a decision that likely impacted the trial’s outcome. Attorney General Pam Bondi noted afterward that the conviction reflects a commitment to addressing political violence. In a trial marked by numerous witnesses and evidence, the prosecution ultimately established Routh's intent, leading to his conviction. He now faces the prospect of significant prison time as he navigates a maze of federal charges, and his plea for self-harm echoes the gravity of his actions and their implications.
