Fatma Zehra Solmaz
11 April 2025•Update: 11 April 2025
ISTANBUL
A US man already incarcerated over allegedly attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump last fall will now face additional state charges of terrorism and attempted murder, Florida’s attorney general said Thursday.
Ryan Routh is accused of trying to disrupt the nation’s political system and will be charged with state-level attempted first-degree murder and terrorism, said Attorney General James Uthmeier, NBC reported.
“Attempting to take the life of a former president and a leading presidential candidate isn’t just an attack on one man, this was a political attack against our republican form of government and our shared American values,” Uthmeier said, referring to Trump before he was returned by voters to the White House.
Routh’s attorney, Kristy Militello, has yet to comment on the new charges.
Prosecutors say Routh tried to kill Trump while he was golfing in West Palm Beach, but was spotted by the Secret Service and fled after an agent fired at him.
Routh is in jail on federal charges, including attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate, firearm possession in connection with a violent crime, assaulting a federal officer, being a felon with a firearm, and possessing a firearm with an erased serial number. He has pleaded not guilty.
His next court date for the federal charges is in September, allowing his attorneys time to review footage from police and surveillance cameras, as well as data from Routh’s 17 cellphones and other devices.
Following Routh's arrest, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the state would launch its own investigation and could file charges not possible at the federal level.
If found guilty of attempting assassination, Routh could face a life sentence.
