Man Convicted of Attempted Assassination of Trump at Florida Golf Course, Faces Life in Prison

A federal jury on Tuesday convicted Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last year, finding him guilty on all charges after a closely watched 12-day trial.

Routh, 59, from Hawaii, was convicted of attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and several firearms-related offenses. The verdict caps one of the most high-profile political violence cases of the last election cycle, coming just over a year after the dramatic incident at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course.

Courtroom witnesses reported that Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen after the verdict was read, prompting court marshals to intervene and restrain him before he could injure himself. He now faces a possible life sentence, with sentencing set for December 18.

Trump, who was running for re-election at the time of the attack, publicly welcomed the verdict. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he praised Attorney General Pam Bondi and Justice Department prosecutors for what he described as a victory for justice. “This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him,” Trump said.

Bondi also released a statement shortly after the verdict, calling the outcome a message against political violence. She said the conviction “illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence” and described the attempt on Trump’s life as “an affront to our very nation itself.”

The September 15, 2024 incident unfolded dramatically. According to court testimony, a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of a rifle sticking out of bushes along the perimeter of Trump’s golf course while the former president was playing a round. The agent immediately opened fire, forcing Routh to flee the scene in a vehicle before he was arrested later that day.

Investigators later confirmed that Routh had positioned himself with the intent to shoot Trump as he played. The arrest came just two months after a separate assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on July 13, 2024, when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire and grazed Trump’s right ear before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.

Routh’s trial in Fort Pierce, Florida, was marked by tense courtroom moments. Representing himself, he delivered lengthy, often disjointed statements that repeatedly drew warnings from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. The judge eventually cut short his opening statement to keep the proceedings on track.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented ballistic evidence, surveillance footage, and testimony from Secret Service agents to argue that Routh’s actions were deliberate and premeditated. They said his behavior was motivated in part by his political grievances and personal frustrations, describing him as a man willing to kill to make a statement.

Court records also revealed Routh’s longstanding interest in global conflicts. He was reported to have a fixation with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and had previously traveled to Kyiv, seeking to join foreign volunteer units before being rejected for being too old and inexperienced.

The case has drawn national attention as the United States continues to grapple with a rise in politically motivated violence. Security for presidential candidates has been under particular scrutiny following the 2024 incidents involving both Routh and Crooks.

With Tuesday’s verdict, federal authorities are framing the case as a warning that attacks on political figures will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Routh’s sentencing in December is expected to draw significant attention, given the possibility of life imprisonment.

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