Federal prosecutors have revealed that Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump earlier this month, left behind a letter explicitly stating his intent. The chilling note, addressed "To the World," was discovered in a box delivered months ago to a witness, containing ammunition, tools, four cell phones, and several handwritten letters. In one of those letters, Routh confessed, "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you," according to the filing by prosecutors.
The 58-year-old suspect was arrested on September 15, after allegedly being spotted near Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump was playing golf. The Secret Service reported seeing a rifle poking out from a tree line several holes ahead of where Trump was golfing. Routh, after reportedly fleeing the scene, was apprehended while driving on a nearby highway. He now faces two firearm-related charges, though additional charges could be added as the investigation progresses.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Routh was in possession of six cell phones, 12 pairs of gloves, a passport, and a Hawaii driver's license when authorities searched his vehicle. Investigators also found a handwritten list of locations and dates where Trump was scheduled to appear in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Additionally, one of Routh's phones contained a search history that showed he had been looking up how to travel from Florida to Mexico, suggesting he may have been planning to flee the country after the alleged assassination attempt.
The DOJ's filing offers further details about Routh's extensive surveillance of Trump in the weeks leading up to the incident. Prosecutors say Routh had been in the area around Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence and golf course several times in the month before his arrest, indicating he was monitoring the former president's movements. Cell phone data placed Routh near these locations multiple times between August 18 and September 15, the day of his arrest.
Prosecutors also disclosed that Routh left behind a disturbing manifesto, in which he urged others to continue his mission. "It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job," he wrote in his letter. In the same document, Routh criticized Trump's foreign policy, stating, "Trump ended relations with Iran like a child and now the Middle East has unraveled." The letter was part of the evidence recovered from the box the suspect had delivered to a witness before the incident.
The suspect's background suggests that his disillusionment with Trump had been festering for some time. According to authorities, Routh had voted for Trump in 2016 but later grew disappointed with his leadership. In a series of online posts, Routh lamented that Trump had failed to embody the moral qualities he believed a U.S. president should possess, writing that he would be "glad when [Trump is] gone."
Further raising concerns, investigators discovered that Routh had spent time in Ukraine, where he attempted, unsuccessfully, to join the fight against Russia. His self-published book, "Ukraine's Unwinnable War," criticized the U.S. government and urged Iran to assassinate Trump. In the book, Routh took responsibility for supporting Trump, writing, "I must take part of the blame for the [person] that we elected for our next president... I misjudged and made a terrible mistake, and Iran, I apologize. You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment."
At his detention hearing scheduled for Monday, prosecutors are expected to argue that Routh poses a severe threat to public safety and should be held without bail as the case progresses. So far, Routh has been charged with two federal firearm offenses, including possession of a gun with a scratched-off serial number and illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. However, law enforcement officials suggest that additional charges, including aggravated assault and making threats against a former president, could be forthcoming.
State Attorney Dave Aronberg commented that Routh's case is likely to expand, with prosecutors considering a wide range of charges. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also weighed in, stating during a press conference that Routh's actions warrant severe punishment. "His offense should merit life in prison," DeSantis said, making clear that state authorities would pursue charges against Routh in addition to the federal case.
The incident has raised new questions about security for high-profile political figures as the 2024 presidential election season heats up. While threats against former presidents are not uncommon, the level of planning allegedly involved in Routh's plot, combined with his inflammatory rhetoric online and in his writings, has sparked concern among security officials.
Prosecutors say their investigation into Routh's activities is ongoing, with the potential for more details to emerge about his movements and intentions in the weeks leading up to his arrest. For now, the federal government is treating the case as an assassination attempt, with the possibility of charges reflecting that as evidence continues to be gathered.
