Failed Donald Trump murderer who tried to kill president at Florida golf course jailed
Ryan Wesley Routh, 60 attempted to assassinate American president Donald Trump at a Florida golf course in September 2024, today he was sentenced to life behind bars
Ryan Wesley Routh, 60 was jailed(Image: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Offi)
A man found guilty of attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course in 2024 has been handed a life sentence. US District Judge Aileen Cannon delivered Ryan Routh’s punishment in the same Fort Pierce courtroom that descended into mayhem in September when he attempted to harm himself with a blade moments after jurors convicted him on all charges.
Prosecutors had sought life without the possibility of parole, arguing that Routh shows no remorse and has never expressed regret. A defence solicitor brought in for his sentencing requested 27 years, highlighting that Routh is approaching 60 years of age.
Routh was also given an additional seven-year term to run consecutively for one of his firearms offences.
Routh’s sentencing was originally set for December, but Ms Cannon agreed to postpone the date after Routh chose to employ legal representation during the sentencing stage rather than defending himself as he had done throughout most of the proceedings.
Prosecutors stated in a sentencing document that Routh has failed to acknowledge any culpability and should remain imprisoned for life, in line with federal sentencing standards.
He was found guilty of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, wielding a firearm in support of a criminal act, attacking a federal officer, possessing a firearm as a convicted criminal and using a weapon with an obliterated serial number.
“Routh remains unrepentant for his crimes, never apologised for the lives he put at risk, and his life demonstrates near-total disregard for law,” the memo said. Routh’s new defence barrister, Martin Roth, requested a departure from sentencing guidelines: 20 years imprisonment in addition to a seven-year, mandatory sentence for one of the firearm convictions.
“The defendant is two weeks short of being 60 years old,” Mr Roth stated in a court filing.
“A fair punishment would provide a sentence lengthy enough to impose adequate but not excessive penalty, and to allow defendant to experience liberty again as opposed to perishing in prison.”
Prosecutors alleged Routh spent weeks scheming to assassinate Mr Trump before pointing a rifle through foliage as the Republican presidential candidate played golf on September 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.
During Routh’s trial, a Secret Service agent safeguarding Mr Trump on the golf course gave evidence that he spotted Routh before Mr Trump came into sight.
Routh directed his rifle at the agent, who discharged his weapon, causing Routh to abandon his firearm and flee without firing a single shot.
In the motion requesting legal representation, Routh proposed to exchange his life in a prisoner swap with individuals wrongfully detained in other nations, and declared an offer remained open for Mr Trump to “take out his frustrations on my face”.
“Just a quarter of an inch further back and we all would not have to deal with all of this mess forwards, but I always fail at everything (par for the course),” Routh penned.
In her ruling granting Routh legal counsel, Ms Cannon condemned the “disrespectful charade” of Routh’s motion, stating it made a mockery of the proceedings. However, the judge, who was nominated by Mr Trump in 2020, expressed her preference to err on the side of legal representation.
Ms Cannon gave her approval last summer for Routh’s request to represent himself at trial. The US Supreme Court has established that criminal defendants have the right to self-representation in court proceedings, provided they can demonstrate to a judge their competence to waive their right to legal counsel.
Routh, with several previous convictions including possession of stolen goods and a significant online presence showcasing his contempt for Mr Trump, is no stranger to the law.
In a book he published himself, he went as far as urging Iran to assassinate him, and even admitted that as a Trump voter, he should bear some responsibility for his election.
