play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
  • cover play_arrow

Routh Guilty On All Charges In Plot To Kill Trump

Background

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(Worthy News) – Ryan Routh was found guilty of all charges in a plot to kill Donald Trump by a federal jury that needed little time to reach a verdict Tuesday afternoon.

Deciding to represent himself and getting cautions many times from Judge Aileen Cannon along the way, Routh nevertheless presented himself as incapable of the five charges prosecutors levied against him. The jury of seven women and five men in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Pierce ultimately were swayed more – needing only about two hours, 20 minutes – by the United States’ attorneys and their 38 witnesses over seven days of testimony.

Routh’s defense included three witnesses on the eighth day. The North Carolina native who has lived in Hawaii faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing is Dec. 18.

Routh was found guilty of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; assaulting a federal officer; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He had pleaded not guilty to all of them.

Four U.S. marshals responded to an outburst by Routh after the verdict, taking him from the courtroom. He tried to stick his neck with a pen. Cannon permitted his return, in shackles and with no blood showing, to learn of the sentencing date.

His daughter, Sara, said encouraging words to him before shouting toward the bench using expletives, leading to her escort from the courtroom.

In its closing, the prosecution’s message to jurors was to consider evidence, both digital and forensic; the established travels of Routh prior to that Sunday; and a round in the chamber of the rifle as well as 19 others in the magazine.

“The evidence has shown one thing and one thing only – the defendant wanted Donald Trump dead,” said Christopher Browne, an assistant U.S. attorney.

The prosecution said giving up on his plot isn’t a defense, legally, for attempted assassination. Jurors agreed.

On Monday, Routh assured Cannon he did not want to testify and she gave him warning that when doing a closing argument only evidence presented is in play. On Tuesday he told the jury he was innocent, said the prosecution failed to prove his intent to kill Trump, and had a few more exchanges with Cannon as he veered from the rules of the courtroom.

The judge sent the jury out because of Routh saying things not in evidence.

A construction worker by trade, Routh in July convinced Cannon to allow him to represent himself. His lack of litigation training, however, was evident in failing to stop the prosecution’s roll through its case either with objections or effective cross-examination; struggles to stay relevant, often drawing the ire of Cannon; and finally, less than a day of defense.

Prosecutors say the suspect was going to attempt take the life of Trump, eventual winner of the presidency over then-Vice President Kamala Harris, as he golfed on a Sunday afternoon. The Sept. 15, 2024, incident came 65 days after a shooter on a roof struck Trump’s ear with a bullet in Butler, Pa.

Security agents for Trump encountered Routh prior to the golf group reaching the area. Routh is accused of raising a rifle, leading to a shot from agents, a short vehicle chase and the suspect’s apprehension on Interstate 95.

The Center Square confirmed he participated in the Super Tuesday primaries in 2024 from the North Carolina State Board of Elections website, and in Hawaii’s 2024 elections through the Office of the City Clerk for the city and county of Honolulu.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.


Latest News from Worthy News

Suspected Islamist Gunman Kills ROTC Instructor At Virginia University
Suspected Islamist Gunman Kills ROTC Instructor At Virginia University
Friday, March 13, 2026

Investigations continued Friday after a suspected Islamist gunman opened fire in a classroom at Old Dominion University in the U.S. state of Virginia on Thursday, killing a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) instructor and wounding two others before he was subdued by students and died, officials said.

US Refueling Aircraft Crash Kills Six Crew Members Over Iraq As Iran Strikes Intensify
US Refueling Aircraft Crash Kills Six Crew Members Over Iraq As Iran Strikes Intensify
Friday, March 13, 2026

All six crew members aboard a U.S. refueling aircraft have died after the plane crashed over western Iraq, the U.S. military confirmed Friday, as fighting between the United States, Israel, and Iran continued to intensify.

Iran’s New Supreme Leader ‘Likely Disfigured,’ Hiding Underground After War Strikes
Iran’s New Supreme Leader ‘Likely Disfigured,’ Hiding Underground After War Strikes
Friday, March 13, 2026

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran’s newly installed supreme leader is likely wounded, disfigured, and hiding underground as the Islamic Republic reels from the opening blows of the war with the United States and Israel.

Bible Sales Surge In Britain As Young Generation Rediscovers Faith
Bible Sales Surge In Britain As Young Generation Rediscovers Faith
Friday, March 13, 2026

Bible sales in Britain have surged to their highest levels since records began, reflecting a growing spiritual interest across the nation—particularly among younger generations.

Damaged Russian Gas Tanker Drifts In Mediterranean As Hungary-Ukraine Energy Tensions Rise
Damaged Russian Gas Tanker Drifts In Mediterranean As Hungary-Ukraine Energy Tensions Rise
Thursday, March 12, 2026

A damaged Russian gas tanker is drifting unmanned through the Mediterranean Sea, prompting Malta to prepare emergency measures while tensions linked to the war in Ukraine spill into Europe’s energy and security landscape.

Iran Launches Drone, Missile Attacks Across Gulf As Oil Prices Surge
Iran Launches Drone, Missile Attacks Across Gulf As Oil Prices Surge
Thursday, March 12, 2026

Iran launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Gulf countries Thursday, the 13th day of the United States-Israel war against Tehran, with strikes reported in Bahrain and other states, sending oil prices sharply higher and raising concerns among foreign workers, including Christians.

25,000 Christians Face Eviction In Pakistan’s Capital As Father Reported Missing
25,000 Christians Face Eviction In Pakistan’s Capital As Father Reported Missing
Thursday, March 12, 2026

Nearly 25,000 Christians, many of them impoverished sanitation workers and day laborers, face possible eviction from their homes in Pakistan’s capital after authorities ordered them to vacate two settlements within days, Christians familiar with the situation confirmed Thursday.

WHO WE ARE

The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.

CONTACT