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Suspect in plot to assassinate Trump pleads not guilty during federal arraignment in West Palm Beach

Ryan Routh faces charges of attempting to assassinate major presidential candidate

The man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Palm Beach County golf course pleaded not guilty in court on Monday.

Ryan Wesley Routh sketch for federal court hearing held Sept. 23, 2024.

By: Stephany Matat and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press & Dave Bohman, WPTV

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A man who authorities say spent 12 hours camped outside Donald Trump's golf course before Secret Service spotted him with a rifle pleaded not guilty on Monday to federal charges including attempted assassination.

WPTV has been closely following this story. Reporter Dave Bohman was at the hearing this morning.

Ryan Wesley Routh appeared briefly in the federal court in West Palm Beach days after a grand jury handed down a five-count indictment stemming from the second attempt on Trump's life since July.

Routh entered the courtroom handcuffed in a tan jumpsuit and waved his hands at reporters gathered to watch the proceedings. His lawyers declined to comment after the hearing.

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The assassination attempt was thwarted when a member of his Secret Service protective detail spotted Routh's rifle barrel protruding through the golf course fence line, ahead of where Trump was playing, authorities say. The agent fired in the direction of Routh, who sped away and was arrested in a neighboring Martin County.

Routh did not fire any rounds and did not have Trump in his line of sight, officials have said. He left behind a digital camera, a backpack, a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope and a plastic bag containing food.

Prosecutors have said that he had written of his plans to kill Trump in a handwritten note months before his Sept. 15 arrest in which he referred to his actions as a failed "assassination attempt on Donald Trump" and offered $150,000 for anyone who could "finish the job." That note was in a box that Routh had apparently dropped off at the home of an unidentified witness months before his arrest.

Monday's hearing was held before a magistrate judge, according to the case docket. But further proceedings will be overseen by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to the bench by Trump and was also assigned to the criminal case accusing the former president of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Cannon generated intense scrutiny for her handling of Trump's criminal case, which she dismissed in July — a decision now being appealed by special counsel Jack Smith’s team.

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Routh's arrest came two months after Trump was shot and wounded in the ear in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has acknowledged failings leading up to that shooting but has said that security worked as it should have to thwart a potential attack in Florida.

Routh was initially charged in a criminal complaint only with gun offenses before prosecutors pursued additional charges before a grand jury. Prosecutors will often quickly bring the first easily provable charges they can and then add more serious charges later as the investigation unfolds.

Other charges he faces include illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions, including two charges of possessing stolen goods in 2002 in North Carolina. He's also accused of having a weapon with a serial number that was obliterated and unreadable to the naked eye, in violation of federal law.

WILL THIS CASE GO TO TRIAL?

Defense lawyer Curtis Fallgatter was a federal prosecutor in Florida's Northern District for 17 years.

Fallgatter is not affiliated with Routh's case, but he doubts this case will ever make it to a jury trial.

"It is rare that federal cases go to trial," Fallgatter said. "From all we've seen, this case seems very strong."

He has followed the case since Routh's arrest.

"A lot of incriminating evidence was found," Fallgatter said. "That would be sort of a suicide run for a trial, why would you do that? I would expect along the way there will be some plea bargaining negotiations, perhaps to avoid the life penalty."

Fallgatter said there are other factors that would push both sides to a plea deal.

"If you're a prosecutor, you don't need to have an unnecessary trial. Mr. Trump doesn't need to go to a trial he doesn't even need to be at," Fallgatter said. "Judicial economy calls for a reasonable approach to solving cases in a fair manner, so I would be surprised if federal prosecutors didn't give some thought to a term of years, 20, 25 maybe something like that."

More of WPTV's coverage of the Trump assassination attempt below: