Ryan Routh, who was arrested as a suspect in an attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump, will represent himself in the case, authorities said. Routh, a North Carolina construction worker who had recently moved to Hawaii, was identified by a US Secret Service agent who spotted him before Trump arrived to play golf, AP reported.The US president was attempted to assassinate on September 15, 2024 at Trump’s West Palm Beach country club.Cellphone records reveal that Routh texted his three adult children and his fiancée separately to tell them he loved them shortly before the assassination attempt. Later the same day, Routh called his fiancée from the Palm Beach county jail to inform her of his arrest, but she was already aware. “Everybody knows, it’s been hours,” the woman said in a recorded call. Charged with attempting to kill Trump, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations, Routh has pleaded not guilty. He is representing himself in federal court and is scheduled to present his defence on Monday, intending to call three witnesses. The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, after seven days of questioning 38 witnesses, rested their case on Friday afternoon, seeking a life sentence for Routh. Prosecutors indicated that Routh had spent weeks planning the attack before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf, as per AP. During the trial, Routh informed US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday that he would require only half a day to present his defence, planning to call a firearms expert and two character witnesses. He has not disclosed whether he intends to testify himself. Judge Cannon approved Routh’s request to represent himself following two hearings in July. Routh criticised his court-appointed federal public defenders, stating they were diligent but did not listen to him and were afraid of him. “How are they supposed to represent me and say I’m not a dangerous person when they don’t believe that?” Routh said in July. The US Supreme Court has affirmed that criminal defendants may represent themselves if they demonstrate competency to waive their right to legal counsel. Since taking over his defence, Routh’s former defence attorneys have acted as standby counsel and attended the trial over the past two weeks. Judge Cannon has instructed attorneys to prepare their closing arguments by Tuesday, allotting each side one hour and 45 minutes, after which jurors will deliberate. The trial at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse was initially scheduled for over three weeks, but shorter cross-examinations have expedited the proceedings. A Secret Service agent testified last week that he identified Routh before Trump became visible at the golf course. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who fired, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without discharging a shot, according to the agent. Additionally, a witness reported seeing a person fleeing after gunfire. This witness was transported by police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, confirming his identity. This incident follows an earlier assassination attempt on Trump nine weeks prior in Pennsylvania during his campaign, where a gunman fired eight shots, grazing Trump’s ear before being fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper. Routh has a history of violent behaviour. In the early days of the war in Ukraine, he attempted to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for evading a traffic stop and barricading himself with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which was an explosive with a 10-inch fuse, police reported. In 2010, police searched a warehouse owned by Routh and found over 100 stolen items, including power tools, building supplies, kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges granted Routh either probation or a suspended sentence. In addition to federal charges, Routh has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.
