Federal Trial of Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect Opens in Florida

The trial of Ryan Wesley Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course on September 15, 2024, commenced with opening statements on Thursday at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida. Routh, 59, is representing himself after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon permitted him to dismiss his court-appointed attorneys, who remain on standby in the courtroom. He has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearm violations.

A jury of 12, comprising four white men, one Black man, six white women, and one Black woman, along with four alternates (two white men and two white women), was sworn in on Wednesday after a meticulous selection process from a pool of 180 candidates. Routh, previously seen in a tan jail jumpsuit and shackles, appeared in a sport coat and tie, addressing jurors from a podium as allowed by Judge Cannon, though restricted from moving freely in the courtroom.

Prosecutors allege Routh meticulously planned the attack for weeks, positioning himself with a rifle hidden in shrubbery near the sixth hole of Trump’s golf course. A Secret Service agent spotted the weapon before Trump came into view, fired at Routh, and caused him to flee without discharging his rifle. The incident, occurring just nine weeks after another assassination attempt in Pennsylvania where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear, underscores heightened security concerns surrounding the former president during his campaign for a second term.

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Routh, a construction worker from North Carolina who recently relocated to Hawaii, has a history of erratic behavior. Describing himself as a mercenary leader, he attempted to recruit fighters for Ukraine’s war against Russia and was arrested in 2002 in Greensboro for possessing an automatic machine gun and an explosive device. The trial, expected to last two to three weeks, is being overseen by Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee previously criticized for dismissing a case involving classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

As the proceedings unfold, the case draws intense scrutiny due to its political implications and Routh’s unconventional self-defense strategy, raising questions about courtroom dynamics and national security.

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