Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course, allegedly wrote a note detailing his intentions and plan. This information emerged during a hearing on Monday where the Department of Justice argued for Routh's continued detention as the investigation progresses.
"The weight of evidence against the defendant is substantial," stated U.S. Magistrate Ryon McCabe during the session. The note was enclosed in a box left months earlier at an unidentified person's house, which wasn't opened until after Routh's arrest last Sunday. The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, construction materials, tools, phones, and several letters.
Addressed to "Dear World," the note anticipated the action's failure. "This was an attempt to assassinate Donald Trump, but I failed. I did my best and gave it all the courage I could muster," the note read, according to prosecutors. Another part of the text stated, "He [Trump] ended relations with Iran like a child, and now the Middle East has fallen apart."
The Department of Justice presented additional evidence, including cell phone records showing that Routh traveled from Greensboro to West Palm Beach in mid-August. He was near Trump's golf club and Mar-a-Lago residence for "several days and hours" between August 18 and the date of the attempted assassination.
Details of the Arrest
Routh was apprehended on Sunday, September 15, when a Secret Service agent inspecting the Trump International Golf Club for potential security threats saw a partially covered man and the barrel of a semi-automatic rifle aimed directly at him. The agent shot at Routh, who managed to escape but was later captured on Interstate 95, thanks to a witness's tip.
Routh's Criminal History
Authorities charged Routh with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and having a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Routh has a lengthy criminal record. In 2002, he was convicted of possessing an automatic machine gun. Other convictions include carrying a concealed weapon, possession of stolen property, and a hit-and-run incident.
A search of his vehicle revealed six cell phones, one of which showed a Google search on how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico. There was also a list with dates in August, September, and October, along with places Trump had appeared or was scheduled to attend, according to prosecutors. Additionally, a notebook found in his car contained criticisms of the Russian and Chinese governments and notes on how to join the war in support of Ukraine.