Evidence from a rifle and other items link back to the suspected assassin of Donald Trump, on testimonial by an FBI forensic expert.
In a courtroom in West Palm Beach, the trial of Ryan Routh, a man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, is currently underway. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and several firearm violations.
The alleged assassination attempt occurred on September 15, 2024, at Trump's West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent testified that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view at the Trump International Golf Club, and that Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who then opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.
A witness was flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witness confirmed it was the person he had seen. One analyst testified that Routh was a potential DNA contributor to more than two dozen items collected from the crime scene, including an SKS rifle.
Investigators believe Routh planned to use metal plates found mounted to the golf course fence for cover. A ballistics expert testified that these metal plates were nearly impossible for handgun rounds to penetrate. Another expert described how Routh's Google and Facebook accounts were logged in to several phones recovered from his SUV.
Location data from these accounts tracked Routh's movements over the weeks leading up to the incident at the Trump International Golf Club. It is worth noting that nine weeks prior to this incident, Trump survived an attempt on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. A gunman fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump's ear, before being fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.
Prosecutors expect to rest their case by Thursday. Witnesses subpoenaed by Routh's defense are expected to appear by Friday. Ryan Routh has not specified whether he plans to testify himself. The trial, which was initially scheduled for more than three weeks by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, is expected to continue with Routh calling a firearms expert and several character witnesses.
Stay tuned for updates as the trial unfolds.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
