Ryan Routh, 59, the man accused of hiding in the bushes of a Florida golf course with a semi-automatic rifle in a plot to assassinate former US President Donald Trump just two months before the 2024 election, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday (Feb 4).
Routh, who served as his own defence lawyer during the trial, was convicted last September by a jury on five criminal counts, including attempted assassination. The sentence was handed down by US District Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Judge Cannon described the plot as “premeditated and calculated,” adding, “It’s clear to me that you engaged in a premeditated, calculated plot to take a human life.”
During the sentencing hearing, Routh, wearing beige prison attire and shackled, delivered a rambling statement that largely focused on foreign conflicts and his wish to be exchanged for political prisoners abroad, without addressing the specifics of his case.
Prosecutors had recommended a life term, while Routh requested a 27-year sentence. His lawyer, Martin Roth, described him as a troubled but fundamentally decent person, and announced plans to appeal the conviction and sentence.
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned Routh’s actions as an attack not only on the former president but on the American democratic system, affirming that he “will never walk free again.”
Routh called himself a “failure” in court, lamenting that execution was not an option, and insisted he had devoted himself to the betterment of his community. Judge Cannon cut him off after 15 minutes, deeming his remarks irrelevant.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Routh had tracked Trump’s movements for nearly a month, bringing six cellphones and using multiple aliases to conceal his identity. On Sep 15, 2024, he waited for nearly 10 hours in thick bushes near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, body armour plates, and a video camera.
Routh also faced convictions for illegal firearm possession and impeding a federal officer during his arrest. He had a prior criminal record with at least 36 convictions, including possession of a mass destructive device, illegal firearms possession, and larceny.
The assassination attempt came just two months after another gunman fired a bullet that grazed Trump’s ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, both incidents occurring in the lead-up to the November 2024 election that returned Trump to the presidency.
After the jury delivered the verdict, Routh reportedly attempted to stab himself with a pen in court and had to be restrained by US marshals. Trump praised the verdict, calling Routh “an evil man with an evil intention” in a statement on Truth Social.
