Routh hid for 10 hours with rifle geared toward Trump, federal prosecutor says

Beneath are reside updates from contained in the federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of making an attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump in September 2024 at his West Palm Seaside golf membership. The proceedings are closed to electronics and never televised, with Fox Information reporters offering firsthand accounts from the Federal Courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Secret Service agent describes ‘textbook ambush’ — 11:52 a.m. ET

The federal government’s first witness, Particular Agent Robert Fercano, testified Thursday that Ryan Routh had aimed a rifle straight at his face whereas mendacity in wait at Trump Worldwide Golf Course in West Palm Seaside on Sept. 15, 2024.

Fercano, now with Homeland Safety Investigations – however on the time a Secret Service agent – stated he hd been scanning the sixth gap whereas Trump performed the fifth when he seen “a number of abnormalities on the fence line.”

“There seemed to be a face, a barrel of a weapon and what I perceived to be plates, like Humvee plates like I noticed within the Marine Corps,” he informed Division of Justice prosecutor Maria Medetis Lengthy.

Fercano stated he tried to make contact: “Hey, sir,” he referred to as out. Moments later, he seen the rifle barrel beginning to transfer and heard “what gave the impression of a groan,” and noticed the person smile, he testified.

At first, Fercano stated, he thought it could possibly be a homeless individual. However Fercano claimed the barrel had adopted his motion, and he had seen plates hanging from the fence that appeared like makeshift bulletproof shielding.

“This seemed to be a textbook ambush state of affairs,” Fercano testified, saying he had drawn his weapon and fired as he walked backward.

Jurors additionally heard Fercano’s frantic radio calls:

“Mogul on 5 inexperienced,” at 1:24 p.m., alerting colleagues Trump was on the fifth gap.

Simply 11 seconds later: “Pictures fired, pictures fired, pictures fired.”

“Be suggested it appeared like an AK-47-style rifle pointed via the fence.”

Prosecutors then introduced the Chinese language-made SKS rifle they are saying Routh had used. Sporting black gloves, Fercano demonstrated for the jury how one to 2 inches of the barrel had protruded via the fence that day.

RYAN ROUTH TRIAL OPENS WITH BIZARRE JURY QUESTIONS AND WITNESS DRAMA

Routh cross examines Fercano 

Representing himself, Ryan Routh spent about quarter-hour questioning Particular Agent Robert Fercano earlier than the court docket broke for lunch.

Routh started with an uncommon opener: “Good to see ya. First query, is it good to be alive?”

“Sure, it’s good to be alive,” Fercano replied.

Routh adopted up: “I’m positive your loved ones is glad you’re alive and nicely?” Prosecutors objected, and the agent didn’t reply.

All through the change, Fercano repeatedly recognized Routh as the person he had seen that day. “I noticed you within the bushes … you smiled at me,” he stated. Routh didn’t dispute the identification.

Routh requested why Fercano had moved off the golf cart path and onto a service path. Fercano stated he had been “pondering like a prison” and seen Routh alongside the fence line.

When Routh requested whether or not a tree limb had blocked his view, Fercano stated, “The trail was unobstructed.”

Pressed on whether or not the suspect was hid, Fercano answered: “Sure, you have been hid.”

Routh requested, “You occurred to see the person driving by?” Fercano replied, “There was no particular person driving by.”

In a last sequence of questions, Routh pressed Fercano about sniper ways: “So far as being a sniper, what could be the most effective stance to shoot individuals? Standing, crouching, laying down?”

Fercano responded: “I wasn’t a sniper … it relies upon.”

Court docket recessed for lunch till 1:05 p.m., when prosecutors will resolve whether or not to observe up with extra questions for Fercano.

Routh delivers rambling opening assertion — 11:23 a.m. ET

Ryan Routh, representing himself in his federal trial the place he’s accused of making an attempt to assassinate Trump final 12 months, spoke to jurors for simply seven minutes earlier than Choose Aileen Cannon lower off his opening assertion, saying it had “completely nothing to do with this case.”

Routh started by apologizing to the jury: “Sorry to take your time and disrupt your lives … I’m so sorry.” He then launched right into a meandering monologue, citing every little thing from prehistoric human historical past to world leaders.

“What’s intent? … Why are we right here? What’s our intent? To like each other … Is that this so troublesome?” Routh requested. He went on to reference Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Putin, Sudan’s civil warfare and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

After 4 minutes, Choose Cannon interrupted, dismissed the jury, and warned Routh his remarks “transcend any relevance within the case.” When he returned to comparable themes, she stopped him once more.

RYAN ROUTH TRIAL: JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT CASE

“We’ve got restricted persistence, and also you don’t have limitless license to go ahead and make a mockery of the dignity of this courtroom,” Cannon informed him.

When the jury got here again in, Routh grew emotional, choking up as he invoked Henry Ford and the Wright brothers, earlier than saying, “This case means completely nothing. A life has been lived to the fullest.”

At that time, Cannon ended his opening remarks and allowed prosecutors to name their first witness.

Trial begins with prosecution’s opening arguments — 10:15 a.m. ET

Federal prosecutors opened their case in opposition to Routh on Thursday, telling jurors he had come “inside seconds” of assassinating Trump throughout a spherical of golf in West Palm Seaside final 12 months.

Assistant U.S. Lawyer John Shipley learn Routh’s personal phrases to the jury — “Trump can’t be elected” and “I would like Trump to go away” — earlier than laying out what he described as a “lethal severe” plan to kill a serious presidential candidate.

Shipley stated Routh had traveled from Hawaii to the mainland with a Chinese language military-grade assault rifle, 20 rounds of ammunition, 10 burner telephones, three aliases, stolen license plates and “a path of lies from Honolulu to Florida.”

RYAN ROUTH TRIAL OPENS WITH BIZARRE JURY QUESTIONS AND WITNESS DRAMA

Jurors have been proven pictures of the golf course perch the place prosecutors say Routh had hid for 10 hours along with his rifle chambered, security off, and pointed at a Secret Service agent clearing the outlet for Trump.

That agent, Fercano, testified Thursday. Shipley informed jurors that Fercano had noticed Routh’s face within the bushes and seen “the muzzle of a rifle pointed straight at his face” earlier than returning hearth.

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“Had he not seen that rifle,” Shipley stated, “the defendant would have succeeded in killing Trump.”

Routh has pleaded not responsible to federal prices of making an attempt to assassinate a serious presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. Prosecutors say he had been armed with an AK-style rifle when Secret Service brokers stopped him close to Trump’s golf course in West Palm Seaside in September 2024. The try got here simply months after Trump had been shot and narrowly survived an assassination try in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Routh’s opening assertion additionally started Thursday morning. He was given 41 minutes for his opening arguments, proper after prosecutors completed their opening presentation. 

It is a growing story. Examine again right here for reside updates.