Ryan Routh found guilty of 2024 attempted assassination of Trump in Florida
Source: The Guardian
Tue 23 Sep 2025 14.39 EDT
Last modified on Tue 23 Sep 2025 14.42 EDT
The man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump on his West Palm Beach golf course two months before clinching his second presidency in the 2024 White House election has been found guilty by a jury in Fort Pierce, Florida.
The government charged Ryan Routh, 59, with five criminal counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and assaulting a Secret Service agent, after an incident on 15 September last year when he was spotted with a rifle hiding in bushes as Trumps golfing party approached.
Jurors returned a verdict of guilty on all charges after deliberating briefly. He faces life imprisonment as a result.
Prosecutors said Routh, 59, had purchased a military-grade weapon, researched Trumps movements and utilized a dozen burner phones as part of a plot to kill Trump that was motivated by political grievances.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/23/ryan-routh-verdict-trump-assassination-attempt

LetMyPeopleVote
(170,058 posts)That was not a good move
BumRushDaShow
(160,511 posts)I was happy!
aggiesal
(10,328 posts)The charges was attempted murder.
He was hiding in the bushes. He never fired a shot.
Please explain how this is attempted murder?
Asking for a friend.
Shrek
(4,311 posts)In jurisdictions following the Model Penal Code (MPC), however, a person is guilty of an attempted crime if they took a substantial step towards the completion of that crime. The substantial step must strongly indicate the persons intent to commit the crime. For example, in State v. Lammers the court determined that purchasing an assault rifle and engaging in target practice is a sufficient substantial step to uphold a conviction for attempted first degree assault.
See also:18 U.S.C. § 1113, attempt to commit murder or manslaughter; 26 U.S.C. § 7201, attempt to evade or defeat tax
aggiesal
(10,328 posts)edbermac
(16,337 posts)