Man Pleads Not Guilty in Trump Assassination Plot
A man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course has pleaded not guilty in federal court. Ryan Routh, 58, was reportedly seen with a rifle near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course earlier this month. Secret Service agents spotted the rifle’s barrel through a fence, prompting them to open fire. Routh fled the scene but was later arrested on Interstate 95.
In addition to the attempted assassination, Routh faces two firearms charges. He appeared in court on Monday, where his attorneys entered a not guilty plea and requested a jury trial. The hearing lasted about five minutes. If convicted, Routh could face life in prison for the assassination attempt and up to 20 years for each firearms charge.
Routh has a lengthy criminal history, including a previous felony gun conviction. Despite being banned from owning firearms, he was found with weapons. He had been involved in recruiting volunteers for Ukraine’s war against Russia and expressed anti-Trump views online, though he was registered as a Democrat.
Routh has been held in custody since his arrest on 15 September.
