Ryan Routh, the suspect in an alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, has been denied bond following a federal court hearing in West Palm Beach. The judge’s decision came after federal prosecutors presented new evidence, including a letter written by Routh that outlined his failed plot to kill Trump.
During the hearing, prosecutors revealed a letter addressed “To The World,” in which Routh confessed, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) also presented evidence that Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers near Mar-a-Lago and the Trump International Golf Course in Florida between August 18 and September 15, suggesting he had been tracking the former president’s movements in the weeks leading up to the alleged attempt.
Routh, 58, faces charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He was arrested earlier this month after authorities uncovered what they describe as a meticulously planned attempt to assassinate Trump while he was at his Florida golf course. Prosecutors argued that Routh is a flight risk and a danger to the community, which led the judge to deny bond.
New details emerged from the DOJ, including the discovery of a box Routh had allegedly delivered to a witness several months before the assassination attempt. The box, which the witness only opened after Routh’s arrest, contained ammunition, a metal pipe, four phones, and several letters, including the confession addressed to “The World.” Federal prosecutors believe this evidence points to a premeditated effort to target Trump.
Former state and federal prosecutor David Weinstein, commenting on the case, said the letter submitted as part of the pretrial detention filing is “damning” and could lead to additional charges against Routh. Weinstein speculated that the charges against Routh could be upgraded to more severe federal and state offenses, given the seriousness of the plot and the evidence presented.
The DOJ has also connected Routh’s movements to specific locations near Trump’s properties, using cell tower data to build their case that Routh was actively stalking the former president in the weeks leading up to the alleged assassination attempt. This new evidence significantly strengthens the prosecution’s argument that Routh poses an ongoing threat, making it unlikely that he will be granted pretrial release.
Adding to the case’s complexity, Routh’s son, Oran Routh, was recently arrested in Guilford, North Carolina, on child pornography charges. Federal investigators searching Oran’s residence found “hundreds” of files containing child pornography, though the investigation into the younger Routh is said to be unrelated to the assassination attempt. Oran now faces federal charges for receipt and possession of child pornography.
The ongoing investigation into Ryan Routh’s assassination plot against Trump has garnered significant national attention, as prosecutors continue to build their case. With the latest revelations, legal experts expect further developments in the case, possibly leading to a broader array of charges for Routh in the coming weeks.
