FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Jury choice is ready to start Monday within the trial of a person charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump whereas he performed golf final yr in South Florida.
The courtroom has blocked off 4 weeks for the trial of Ryan Routh, however attorneys predict they’ll want much less time.
Jury choice is anticipated to take three days, with attorneys questioning three units of 60 potential jurors. They’re looking for 12 jurors and 4 alternates. Opening statements are scheduled to start Thursday, and prosecutors will start their case instantly after that.
U.S. District Decide Aileen Cannon signed off in July on Routh’s request to characterize himself however stated court-appointed attorneys want to stay as standby counsel. Cannon confirmed throughout a listening to final week that Routh could be wearing skilled enterprise apparel for the trial. She additionally defined to Routh that he could be allowed to make use of a podium whereas talking to the jury or questioning witnesses, however he wouldn’t have free rein of the courtroom.
The trial will start almost a yr after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh’s try to shoot the Republican presidential nominee. Routh, 59, has pleaded not responsible to expenses of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several other firearm violations.
Simply 9 weeks earlier, Trump had survived another attempt on his life whereas campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight photographs, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear, earlier than being shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.
Prosecutors have stated Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks earlier than aiming a rifle via the shrubbery as Trump performed golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Seashore nation membership. A Secret Service agent noticed Routh earlier than Trump got here into view. Officers stated Routh aimed his rifle on the agent, who opened hearth, inflicting Routh to drop his weapon and flee with out firing a shot.
Legislation enforcement obtained assist from a witness who prosecutors stated knowledgeable officers that he noticed an individual fleeing. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a close-by interstate the place Routh was arrested, and the witnesses confirmed it was the individual he had seen, prosecutors have stated.
The decide final week unsealed the prosecutor’s 33-page checklist of reveals that may very well be launched as proof on the trial. It says prosecutors have pictures of Routh holding the identical mannequin of semi-automatic rifle discovered at Trump’s membership.
Routh was a North Carolina building employee who lately had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary chief, Routh spoke out to anybody who would hear about his harmful, generally violent plans to insert himself into conflicts world wide, witnesses have informed The Related Press.
Within the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit troopers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to battle the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a site visitors cease and barricading himself from officers with a totally automated machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch fuse.
In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and located greater than 100 stolen gadgets, from energy instruments and constructing provides to kayaks and spa tubs. In each felony instances, judges gave Routh both probation or a suspended sentence.
Along with the federal expenses, Routh additionally has pleaded not responsible to state expenses of terrorism and tried homicide.
