Ryan Routh, the person accused of making an attempt to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump final yr, will call his first witness Monday morning at his federal trial in Fort Pierce, Florida, and may testify in his own protection.
The 59-year-old Routh, who’s representing himself, has instructed Judge Aileen Cannon he’s contemplating testifying. That would open him up to cross-examination by the US attorneys prosecuting him.
Routh is predicted to call three witnesses, together with a member of the family and former Marine sniper who test-fired the SKS Soviet-made rifle discovered on the scene of Trump’s golf membership in West Palm Beach on September 15, 2024.
Routh faces 5 costs, together with tried assassination of a serious presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial quantity. Authorities say Routh created a “sniper’s nest” close to the sixth inexperienced of Trump International Golf Club.
Routh’s daughter Sarah has been in court docket every single day for the reason that trial began.
“I think he’s gonna try to prove, show who he is as a person,” she instructed NCS.
When requested how he’s doing representing himself, she stated, “he is doing a great job for no law education and no materials, no resources … no law library, no law books.”
After listening to from 38 witnesses, prosecutors rested their case Friday. Nearly two weeks of testimony and a whole lot of displays culminated with ultimate witness who pieced collectively how Routh was allegedly “stalking” Trump and amassing each “physical and electronic evidence.”
Kimberly McGreevy, an FBI supervisory particular agent, targeted on proof collected between August 14 and September 15, 2024, main up to the alleged assassination try. Prosecutors ticked via a mountain of proof with McGreevy on the stand, together with call logs, textual content messages, financial institution data and video surveillance.
Highlighting cellphone data allegedly from Routh’s “burner phones,” the witness pointed to calls and textual content messages Routh allegedly made to organize for the acquisition of the rifle. Pictures of somebody holding that weapon and wearing clothes that matches garments present in Routh’s automobile have been additionally proven to the jury. The precise gadgets, ripped denims and mustard-colored sneakers, have been displayed in court docket.
The FBI witness instructed the jury cellphone knowledge confirmed Routh “in the vicinity” of the golf membership for weeks earlier than the incident, together with on September 2 for 16 hours starting at 4 a.m. A Google account on one in all Routh’s alleged “burner phones” confirmed he looked for “Trump’s upcoming rallies” and “Palm Beach traffic cameras,” in accordance to prosecutors.
The authorities additionally laid out Routh’s alleged getaway plan: a number of license plates, three aliases, and Google searches for “directions to Miami airport” and “flights to Mexico.” Text messages allegedly present he instructed a buddy in Mexico, “I may see you Monday,” the day after his alleged plan to shoot Trump. Other searches on-line, prosecutors say, included “hospitals in the area” and directions on “how to make a tourniquet.”
Prosecutors say Routh additionally wrote a track about Trump loosely primarily based on lyrics from an Eminem track. Routh’s lyrics have been stated to have included phrases together with “carrot a**” and “eat those bullets,” together with the road, “I’d like to remove the frown and eliminate that clown.”
On September 15, 2024, lower than an hour earlier than authorities say Routh was going to open fireplace on Trump, he texted his three youngsters. His daughter Sarah at 12:55 p.m.: “Love you so much, you are the best daughter.” His son Adam at 12:56 p.m.: “You are so awesome dude, love you so much.” His son Orin additionally at 12:56 p.m.: “Love you so much, man. You are so brilliant.”
Orin, seemingly alarmed, wrote again: “Love you too, Dad. What’s up? Everything alright?”
Routh was arrested as he fled north on Florida’s Interstate 95 about an hour later.