A 58-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump left behind a note outlining his intent, prosecutors revealed on Monday.
The suspect, Ryan W. Routh, was arrested at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he allegedly planned the attack. In the note, he even offered $150,000 to anyone who could “complete the job” after his failed attempt.
According to a federal court filing, Routh had been staking out the grounds of the golf course for a month prior to the incident. On September 15, he positioned himself outside the fence at the sixth hole, ready to target Mr. Trump with a semiautomatic rifle. A Secret Service agent, scouting one hole ahead of Mr. Trump’s group, spotted Routh and his weapon.
Prosecutors said Routh had lined himself up to shoot the former president from a short distance. His rifle, equipped with a scope and loaded with 11 rounds, was left at the scene with a bullet in the chamber.
In a note discovered by investigators, placed in a box at a friend’s house, Routh wrote, “I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.” The note, dated months before the attempted shooting, indicates that Routh had been planning the assassination for a significant period.
Routh’s motivations extended beyond his violent intent, as he expressed his belief that Mr. Trump was unfit to serve as president. He also left behind evidence in his vehicle, including a handwritten list of dates and venues where Mr. Trump had appeared or was expected to appear, and a search history showing an inquiry into traveling from Palm Beach County to Mexico.
Further items discovered in Routh’s Nissan SUV included six cellphones, 12 pairs of gloves, a Hawaii driver’s license in his name, and a passport. Routh, described in the filing as an “itinerant and impoverished contractor,” had professed a willingness to die for Ukraine, adding another layer to his complex motivations.
Routh was scheduled to appear in court on Monday for a detention hearing as prosecutors push for him to remain in custody while awaiting trial on two gun-related charges.
