STUART, Fla. — The state of Florida is filing new charges against the man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump earlier this year in Palm Beach County.
Attorney General Ashley Moody was in Martin County on Wednesday to announce additional attempted murder charges against Ryan Routh.
Following the second assassination attempt against Trump this year, Routh fled north on Interstate 95 toward Martin County.
WATCH BELOW: AG Moody announces state charges against Ryan Routh
When deputies found him, they had to stop traffic in both directions on I-95, which caused a crash that seriously injured a 6-year-old girl.
During Wednesday's news conference, Moody said she hopes the attempted murder charge against Routh will bring justice to the young girl and her family.
"When you couple those terrible injuries together with his other criminal conduct, which we believe rises to the level of domestic terrorism, it turns his actions into an attempted felony murder case," Moody said.
Just two days after the assassination attempt in Palm Beach County, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Sept. 17 to launch a state-level investigation.
In October, the state of Florida filed a lawsuit to stop the U.S. Department of Justice from blocking a state investigation into the second assassination attempt on Trump.
The feds have stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn, and I appreciate AG Ashley Moody and her team for plowing forward despite such resistance.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) December 18, 2024
The tide will turn on January 20th and we fully expect that the federal roadblocks will… https://t.co/prxzX6BizD
"The feds have stonewalled Florida's investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn, and I appreciate AG Ashley Moody and her team for plowing forward despite such resistance. The tide will turn on January 20th and we fully expect that the federal roadblocks will be removed. The would-be assassin needs to face the full force of justice and the people deserve the truth about the defendant’s history, motivations and plan," DeSantis posted on X.
WPTV reporter Brooke Chau asked Moody about when Routh might have a first appearance in court to face the charges being filed in Florida.
"He's being held on federal charges," Moody replied. "At some point, he will face his new charges filed in Martin County."
WPTV reporter Cassandra Garcia spoke to Martin County Sheriff William Snyder about the state charges.
"Most people are focusing on the president-elect, and we should, but we also owe it to that little girl and her family to see that justice is done for them," Snyder said.
Routh remains in federal custody.
Read the full 18-page affidavit below:
