Ryan Routh, the person accused of making an attempt to assassinate Donald Trump on Trump’s West Palm Seaside golf course final 12 months, has been discovered responsible on all 5 counts.
He was forcibly faraway from the courtroom following the announcement of the decision after what U.S. District Decide Aileen Cannon described as an “outburst.”
Routh tried to stab himself within the neck with a pen amid the chaos after the decision was handed down, based on sources. Nonetheless the pen he had entry to is specifically designed to not injure, so it solely left bruises or marks on his neck and he wasn’t injured, a supply mentioned.
4 armed marshals surrounded Routh, who appeared to face as soon as the jury left the courtroom. Routh was then walked out of the courtroom.
Sara Routh, his daughter seated within the courtroom, shouted, “Dad, I like you. Do not do something. I’ll get you out.”
“He did not harm anyone. This isn’t honest. That is all rigged. You guys are a——s,” she shouted earlier than additionally being escorted from the courtroom.
Decide Cannon subsequently allowed Routh again within the courtroom in shackles and escorted by marshals. He was knowledgeable that he will likely be sentenced on Dec. 18.
On this imaged launched by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff’s Workplace, legislation enforcement officers arrest Ryan Routh, the person suspected within the obvious assassination try of Donald Trump, Sept. 15, 2024.
Martin County Sheriff’s Workplace by way of AP, FILE
In keeping with federal prosecutors, a few of the jurors noticed the outburst as they had been exiting.
“The jury has not but left the room on the time of the defendant’s conduct,” a prosecutor mentioned.
Decide Cannon, who beforehand oversaw and dismissed certainly one of Trump’s legal instances, thanked the attorneys and Routh for his or her time, “regardless of your outburst at the moment.”
Routh, who was representing himself regardless of missing any authorized schooling or expertise, confronted 5 legal fees, together with tried assassination of a significant presidential candidate, utilizing a firearm in furtherance of a criminal offense, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm as a felon, and utilizing a gun with a defaced serial quantity. He faces as much as life in jail.
Previous to reaching their verdict, the jury deliberated for about two hours earlier than requesting to see the rifle, ammunition and journal that Routh allegedly used.
Decide Cannon allowed the jurors to view the reveals in open court docket.
Routh argued throughout his closing argument Tuesday that he didn’t intend to shoot Trump and that he lacks “the capability to kill.”
“The prime alternative was there for the defendant to shoot the president,” Routh mentioned in a rambling, 55-minute closing argument. “Why was the set off not pulled?”
In a quick rebuttal, federal prosecutor John Shipley argued that Routh needs to be discovered responsible as a result of he nonetheless took a number of steps to hold out his alleged assassination plot, casting doubt on Routh’s central argument that he lacked the intention to really shoot Trump.
“You’ve got heard the proof. This isn’t a peaceable and nonviolent man,” Shipley mentioned.
U.S. Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi, posting to social media following the announcement of the decision, wrote, “At the moment’s responsible verdict towards would-be Trump murderer Ryan Routh illustrates the Division of Justice’s dedication to punishing those that interact in political violence.”
“This tried assassination was not solely an assault on our President, however an affront to our very nation itself,” Bondi wrote.
Prosecutors allege that Routh put collectively a methodical plan — together with buying a military-grade weapon, researching Trump’s actions, and using a dozen burner telephones — to kill Trump primarily based on political grievances.
Hiding within the bushes of Trump’s Palm Seaside golf course and armed with a rifle, Routh allegedly got here inside a few hundred yards of the then-presidential nominee earlier than a Secret Service agent noticed his rifle poking out of the tree line.
Routh allegedly fled the scene however was later arrested by an area sheriff’s workplace on a close-by interstate.
Routh spent three hours Monday presenting his protection case after prosecutors known as greater than three dozen witnesses during the last two weeks within the authorities’s case.
Routh known as a firearms knowledgeable and two of his longtime associates in his protection.
A view of Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse constructing the place the trial towards Ryan Routh is ready to start in Fort Pierce, Florida, Sept. 11, 2025.
Cristobal Herrera-ulashkevich/EPA/Shutterstock
“Is it your private opinion of me that I’m peaceable and delicate, and nonviolent?” Routh requested his second witness, longtime pal Marshall Hinshaw.
“I might say so,” Hinshaw mentioned. “I might not anticipate you to hurt anybody, Ryan.”
Routh argued that he lacked the capability to kill Trump, although he appeared to concede a few of the prosecution’s allegations through the trial. He acknowledged that he authored a letter that prosecutors say outlined his plans to kill Trump.
He was lower off a number of instances Monday by Decide Cannon, who ended the day with a warning for Routh forward of Tuesday’s closings.
“Any argument you make … should be fairly tied to the admitted proof. Do you perceive?” the decide requested Routh, saying that any deviation will “trigger an issue.”
“Sure, your honor,” Routh mentioned.
ABC Information’ Luke Barr and Pierre Thomas contributed to this report.
